EXHIBIT 23






                          Independent Auditors' Consent








We consent to the  incorporation  by reference  in  Registration  Statement  No.
33-11717 of Middlesex Water Company on Form S-3 of our report dated February 22,
2002,  appearing in this Annual  Report on Form 10-K of Middlesex  Water Company
for the year ended December 31, 2001.






/s/DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP/
------------------------
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Parsippany, New Jersey
March 26, 2002