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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NG6/JnBrqeKAuYUIOikacsUjnacYbvedK/6asHoBZduQl0XpBsbL2s+9czRtuVpv
 Zwx2CwiSn0OcLPGh7qxylQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000052466-03-000069.txt : 20030903
<SEC-HEADER>0000052466-03-000069.hdr.sgml : 20030903
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030903104004
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000052466-03-000069
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030828
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030903

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			IONICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000052466
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY, NEC [3559]
		IRS NUMBER:				042068530
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		65 GROVE ST
		CITY:			WATERTOWN
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02172
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6179262500

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CURTIS JOHN F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001258941

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07211
		FILM NUMBER:		03877714

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6 TOWER DR
		CITY:			DOVER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02030
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>curtis-form3sep03_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-08-28</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000052466</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IONICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ION</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258941</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CURTIS JOHN F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6 TOWER DR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DOVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02030</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>VP, Strategy and Operations</officerTitle>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>22.00</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-08-28</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2013-08-28</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>200000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> Grant to reporting person of inducement stock option to buy 200,000 shares of Common Stock in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3. Option vests immediately as to 50,000 shares with remainder vesting in 50,000 share increments on the first, second and third anniversaries of date of grant.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>John F. Curtis</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-09-03</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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