UNITED
      STATES


SECURITIES
      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Washington,
      D.C. 20549








**FORM
      8-K**





**CURRENT
      REPORT**


Pursuant
      to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934











Date
      of
      Report:  April 18, 2007











MIDDLESEX
      WATER COMPANY


(Exact
      name of registrant as specified in its charter)








NEW
                  JERSEY
              0-422
              22-1114430(State
                  or other jurisdiction of
              (Commission
              (I.R.S.
                  Employerincorporation
                  or organization)
              File
                  Number)
              Identification
                  No.)








1500
      RONSON ROAD, P.O. BOX 1500, ISELIN, NEW JERSEY 08830


(Address
      of principal executive offices, including zip code)








(732)-634-1500


(Registrant’s
      telephone number, including area code)











Check
      the
      appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
      satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
      provisions:





o  Written
      communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
      230.425)





o  Soliciting
      material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14a-12)





o  Pre-commencement
      communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14d-2(b))





o  Pre-commencement
      communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.13e-4(c))

















**Item.
      8.01.      Other Events**





Announcement
      regarding Middlesex Water Company Filing Petition for an Increase in Rates
      to
      Recover Increased Costs and Water Quality Improvements as set forth in the
      attached press release.














SIGNATURE








Pursuant
      to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
      has
      duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf of the undersigned hereunto
      duly authorized.








MIDDLESEX
                  WATER COMPANY(Registrant)s/Kenneth
                  J. QuinnKenneth
                  J. QuinnVice
                  President, General Counsel,Secretary
                  and Treasurer








Dated:    April
      18, 2007





2














**WATER
      QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS, INCREASED COSTS DRIVE MIDDLESEX**


**WATER
      TO FILE FOR RATE INCREASE**





*ISELIN,
      NEW JERSEY*,  (April 18, 2007) Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ:
      MSEX), a provider of water, wastewater and related services in New Jersey and
      Delaware today filed a rate request with the New Jersey Board of Public
      Utilities (BPU) for a general increase in water rates for its Middlesex system
      in New Jersey.  The Company, which last filed in May 2005, is
      requesting an overall increase of approximately 16.5% or $8.9 million over
      current revenues to support its ongoing capital program and to cover costs
      of
      increases in operations, maintenance, labor and benefits, purchased power and
      taxes, all necessary for the Company to continue providing reliable and quality
      water service.




If
      approved, the average residential customer using 2,600 cubic feet (19,448
      gallons) of water per quarter would see their bill increase from $89.37 to
      $104.10, an increase of $14.73.  Customers will continue to receive a
      gallon of treated water delivered to their home for less than a penny per
      gallon.  The proposed increase percentage is being requested to be
      applied equally to all classes of customers.




“Ensuring
      safe drinking water for nearly a quarter of a million residents requires ongoing
      and prudent infrastructure investments,” said Dennis W. Doll, President and CEO.
“This request includes approximately $23.0 million in investment in utility
      infrastructure in the Middlesex system since rates were last established in
      2005.  This request also includes replacement and installation of new
      water lines, valves and hydrants and improvements to water treatment to enhance
      service to customers,” added Doll.




The
      rate petition represents an initial
      step in the regulatory approval process.  The rate proposal will next
      be reviewed and analyzed by the BPU and the Division of Ratepayer Advocate,
      an
      agency representing customers.  A public hearing on the matter will be
      held in the Company’s service area where customers are welcome to comment on the
      filing request.




Middlesex
      Water Company presently serves 59,000 retail customers, representing a
      population of about 237,000 people in the Townships of Woodbridge, Edison,
      the
      Borough of South Plainfield, Carteret, Metuchen, the City of South Amboy, the
      Township of Clark and the Town of Fortescue in Downe Township in Cumberland
      County.  The Company also provides service under contract to the
      Boroughs of Highland Park and Sayreville, the Old Bridge Municipal Utilities
      Authority (MUA), the Marlboro Township MUA, the City of Rahway and, under a
      special contract, the Township of East Brunswick.





**WATER
      QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS, INCREASED COSTS DRIVE MIDDLESEX WATER TO FILE FOR RATE
      INCREASE /Page 2**








**About
      Middlesex Water Company**




Middlesex
      Water Company, organized in 1897, is a water utility serving customers in
      central and southern New Jersey and in the State of
      Delaware.  Headquartered in Iselin, NJ, Middlesex Water is subject to
      various Federal and State regulatory agencies concerning water quality
      standards.




For
      additional information regarding Middlesex Water Company, visit the Company’s
      web site at www.middlesexwater.com or call (732) 634-1500.




***This
      release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private
      Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among
      others,  our long-term strategy and expectations, the status of our
      acquisition program, the impact of our acquisitions, the impact of current
      and
      projected rate requests and the impact of our capital program on our
      environmental compliance. There are important factors that could cause actual
      results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
      forward-looking statements including: general economic business conditions,
      unfavorable weather conditions, the success of certain
      cost  containment initiatives, changes in regulations or regulatory
      treatment, availability and the cost of capital, the success of growth
      initiatives and other factors discussed in our filings with the Securities
      and
      Exchange Commission.***




***###***


Contact:
                Bernadette Sohler, Vice President –
              Corporate
                Affairs
              (732)
                634-1500