-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OfQEezy+CtZNIs+YPEELJjg+smucnVF8DOb3UZQI0H0lHCTSPOe7TDZm8Ecuc7KF
 zRBUEYu+qetI273GNHJSRw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001072613-05-000472.txt : 20050223
<SEC-HEADER>0001072613-05-000472.hdr.sgml : 20050223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050223170035
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001072613-05-000472
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050222
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050223
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050223

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:		05634924

	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>pro_13310ex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FREDERICK T. STANT, III - FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</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>2005-02-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>U</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>230196</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>44.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>U</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>541</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>44.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.10</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>U</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>44.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The disposition of the securities is exempt pursuant to Section 16b-3(e).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 14,479 shares held by The Richard Dickerson Irrevocable Trust No. 3 dated July 1, 1991, 33,540 shares held by The
 Douglas Dickerson Irrevocable Trust No. 3 f/b/o Meredith D. Walthall, 33,540 shares held by The Douglas Dickerson
 Irrevocable Trust No. 3 f/b/o Paige L. Dickerson, 33,539 shares held by The Douglas Dickerson Irrevocable Trust No. 3 f/b/o
 Douglas G Dickerson, II, 14,479 shares held by The Richard Dickerson Irrevocable Trust No. 3 dated July 1, 1991, 20,124
 shares held by The Richard Dickerson Irrevocable Trust No. 3 f/b/o Courtney B. Dickerson, 20,124 shares held by The Richard
 Dickerson Irrevocable Trust No. 3 f/b/o Andrew G. Dickerson, 20,124 shares held by The Richard Dickerson Irrevocable Trust
 No. 3 f/b/o Ryan C. Dickerson, 20,124 shares held by The Richard Dickerson Irrevocable Trust No. 3 f/b/o Kimberly D. Nikki,
 and 20,123 shares held by The Richard Dickerson Irrevocable Trust No. 3 f/b/o Richard C. Dickerson, Jr.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">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>
        <footnote id="F4">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement between the issuer, General Electric Company and Triton Acquisition Corp., the stock options
 will be converted at the effective time of the merger into the right to receive a cash payment equal to the excess of $44.00
 over the exercise price of such stock option multiplied by the number of shares subject to such stock option.  The
 disposition of the securities is exempt pursuant to Section 16b-3(e).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Stephen Korn, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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