<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENTS OF INCOME OF UNITED STATES FILTER
CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1996             MAR-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1995             APR-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995             SEP-30-1995
<CASH>                                      86,259,000                       0
<SECURITIES>                                 2,535,000                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                              119,353,000                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                               (4,097,000)                       0
<INVENTORY>                                 49,169,000                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           304,755,000                       0
<PP&E>                                     160,910,000                       0
<DEPRECIATION>                            (27,189,000)                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             632,358,000                       0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      117,254,000                       0
<BONDS>                                    211,189,000                       0
<COMMON>                                       251,000                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                 22,071,000                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 271,413,000                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               632,358,000                       0
<SALES>                                    108,308,000             199,847,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           108,308,000             199,847,000
<CGS>                                       74,802,000             138,467,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               74,802,000             138,467,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               331,000                 977,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           3,034,000               5,469,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              6,094,000              10,633,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                 1,585,000               2,765,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          4,509,000               7,868,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 4,509,000               7,868,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .19                     .35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .19                     .35
        

</TABLE>