<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS OF UNITED STATES FILTER
CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1999             MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1998             APR-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          38,032                       0
<SECURITIES>                                       377                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,162,523                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                  (45,894)                       0
<INVENTORY>                                    534,823                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,194,184                       0
<PP&E>                                       1,426,165                       0
<DEPRECIATION>                               (362,757)                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,126,345                       0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,262,197                       0
<BONDS>                                      1,401,719                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                         1,766                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,731,201                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,126,345                       0
<SALES>                                      1,225,109               3,570,322
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,225,109               3,570,322
<CGS>                                          861,690               2,511,304
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  861,690               2,511,304
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,123                  12,387
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              29,999                  85,180
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 99,265                  18,356
<INCOME-TAX>                                    35,774                  50,051
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             63,491                (31,695)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    63,491                (31,695)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.37                  (0.19)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.36                  (0.19)
        

</TABLE>