Further re Acquisition

Thames Water PLC
29 November 2000



        THAMES WATER COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF E'TOWN
                              
Thames  Water today announced the closing of its acquisition
of   New   Jersey-based  E'town  Corporation,  marking   the
beginning  of its water supply operations in  the  US.   The
acquisition  will  take the form of a  merger,  with  E'town
becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thames Water.

Bill  Alexander, Thames Water's Chief Executive,  commented:
'The  acquisition of E'town represents an important step  in
the  continuing  development of the company's  international
activities and enhances our ability to accelerate the growth
of our North American business.

'Together,  E'town  and  Thames  have  over  500  years   of
experience  in  the water industry, which  places  us  in  a
strong position to secure significant additional business in
the  US.   We also share a commitment to providing excellent
value  for  money  to  our customers and  a  keen  sense  of
environmental stewardship.'

The  New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and the New Jersey
Department  of  Environmental Protection  will  continue  to
oversee  all  regulatory issues including rate  adjustments,
water quality and customer service measures.

'The   two  companies  will  capitalize  on  their  combined
experience and expertise to provide customers with  superior
quality  and  service  in all areas of the  business,'  said
Andrew  Chapman,  President  of  E'town  Corporation.   'The
combination  will  also  enhance  career  opportunities  for
employees   and  provide  for  additional  development   and
learning.'

E'town  shareholders overwhelmingly approved the  merger  in
May  2000,  and  the  New Jersey Board of  Public  Utilities
approved the transaction last month.

London-based Thames Water is the third largest global  water
service  provider,  serving a population  of  more  than  23
million   customers   and   employing   14,000   individuals
worldwide.


NOTES TO EDITORS

About Thames Water in the United States:

Thames Water, through its various subsidiaries in the United
States,  provides a broad spectrum of water-related products
and   services.   Its  US  products  businesses  manufacture
municipal  water and wastewater filtration and clarification
systems   and  provide  liquid/solid  water  and  wastewater
separation  technologies  for the municipal  and  industrial
marketplace.   In  September 2000 Thames  Water  inaugurated
water  service  to  more  than 1.6  million  people  in  the
Commonwealth  of  Puerto Rico, as contract operator  of  the
US$300 million Superacqueduct, servicing the capital of  San
Juan.    This  is  the  largest  design-build-operate  (DBO)
project in the United States.


About E'town Corporation:

E'town  Corporation is the parent company  of  Elizabethtown
Water  Company,  which  provides  retail  water  service  in
central  New Jersey and, on a wholesale basis, a portion  of
the  water requirements of eight municipal systems and three
investor-owned water companies.  Through other subsidiaries,
E'town operates, under long-term contracts, municipal  water
systems,   and   designs,  builds  and  operates   satellite
wastewater plants.

For further information please contact:

Cathy Little
Thames Water
00 44 118 959 3364
www.thames-water.com

Donna Gregory
E'town Water
001 908 301 3235
www.etownwater.com