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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 H4ARG1q0wEHG6Lw6cdRbM1PkYofUABB5NxZi0q5JVseZwZYLtzz2AiNk9tmAzQ6z
 7XvScbI5mg7sMzE+K3z5bw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000052466-04-000055.txt : 20040507
<SEC-HEADER>0000052466-04-000055.hdr.sgml : 20040507
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040507160858
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000052466-04-000055
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040506
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040507

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WRIGHTON MARK S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001021584

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07211
		FILM NUMBER:		04789339

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
		STREET 2:		1 BROOKINGS DRIVE CAMPUS BOX 1192
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63130

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
		STREET 2:		1 BROOKINGS DRIVE CAMPUS BOX 1192
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63130

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>markwrighton_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000052466</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IONICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ION</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001021584</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WRIGHTON MARK S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1 BROOKINGS DRIVE CAMPUS BOX 1192</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST LOUIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63130</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.10</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-11-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant to reporting person of option to buy 2,000 shares of Common Stock under the Ionics, Incorporated 2003 Non-Employee
Directors Stock Option Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Will expire earlier in the event the person ceases to be a director.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Mark S. Wrighton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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