-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GFEm1tjq0G0NzHkpr1BAaNtHATinkYz+70jWPzJbaq4OOxhiSo6ZpjdZo96qBxw6
 g8t7IyvyEsxuHW0V7vkKjg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000052466-04-000087.txt : 20041118
<SEC-HEADER>0000052466-04-000087.hdr.sgml : 20041118
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041118100123
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000052466-04-000087
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041116
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041118
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041118

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:			STANT FREDERICK T III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001280321

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07211
		FILM NUMBER:		041153788

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		WILLIAMS MULLEN
		STREET 2:		222 CENTRAL PARK AVE STE 1700
		CITY:			VIRGINIA BEACH
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23462
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7574735304
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>nov2004-stant_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001280321</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STANT FREDERICK T III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>WILLIAMS MULLEN</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>222 CENTRAL PARK AVE STE 1700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>VIRGINIA BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23462</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>242</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>230737</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares acquired by reporting person as payment of retainer fee pursuant to Ionics, Incorporated 1998 Non-Employee
Directors Fee Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 115,098 shares held by the Richard Dickerson Irrevocable Trust and 115,098 shares held by the Douglas Dickerson
Irrevocable Trust. Mr. Stant, as the independent trustee of each trust, has the sole power to direct the voting, and the
shared power to direct the disposition, of the shares of common stock held by these trusts. However, he has no pecuniary
interest in these shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Frederick T. Stant III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----