<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS 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                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1996             MAR-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1995             APR-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                      26,717,000              26,717,000             
<SECURITIES>                                 2,357,000               2,357,000             
<RECEIVABLES>                              150,565,000             150,565,000             
<ALLOWANCES>                                (4,939,000)             (4,939,000)             
<INVENTORY>                                 56,812,000              56,812,000             
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           289,475,000             289,475,000             
<PP&E>                                     194,512,000             194,512,000             
<DEPRECIATION>                              34,834,000              34,834,000             
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             707,473,000             707,473,000             
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      170,887,000             170,887,000             
<BONDS>                                    210,397,000             210,397,000             
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                 22,071,000              22,071,000             
<COMMON>                                       258,000                 258,000             
<OTHER-SE>                                 288,241,000             288,241,000             
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               707,473,000             707,473,000             
<SALES>                                    126,907,000             326,754,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           126,907,000             326,754,000
<CGS>                                       88,708,000             227,175,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               88,708,000             227,175,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               175,000                 802,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           3,686,000               9,155,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              7,957,000              18,590,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                 2,077,000               4,842,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          5,880,000              13,748,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 5,880,000              13,748,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.22                    0.57
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.22                    0.57
        

</TABLE>