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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,
 GaUCKogYheb3i23ZVS39KuR0CaCb595D7+HQsA7n/elsMcvx4fHtRn3ymJ3MBfGx
 mNKzy3xmm4jrTPlxZ9BqTw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001194707-03-000007.txt : 20031125
<SEC-HEADER>0001194707-03-000007.hdr.sgml : 20031125
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031125133513
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001194707-03-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031124
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031125

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000078128
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WATER SUPPLY [4941]
		IRS NUMBER:				231702594
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		762 LANCASTER AVE
		CITY:			BRYN MAWR
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19010
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2155278000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		762 LANCASTER AVE
		CITY:			BRYN MAWR
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19010

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEBENEDICTIS NICHOLAS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194707

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06659
		FILM NUMBER:		031022667

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GLATFELTER
		STREET 2:		96 SOUTH GEORGE ST STE 420
		CITY:			YORK
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17401
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7172252709

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GLATFELTER
		STREET 2:		96 SOUTH GEORGE ST STE 420
		CITY:			YORK
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17401
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001194707d20031125f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-24</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000078128</issuerCik><issuerName>PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>PSC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001194707</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>DEBENEDICTIS NICHOLAS</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>762 W LANCASTER AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>BRYN MAWR</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>19010</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>CHAIRMAN &amp; PRESIDENT</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></re
portingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-24</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-11-24</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8516</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>11.74</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>318635</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></n
onDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-24</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-11-24</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3905</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>25.6</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>314730</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivati
veTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK - IRA</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1886</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK - IRA</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1509</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>IRA - SPOUSE</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK 401K</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6160</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransa
ction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>11.74</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-24</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-11-24</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8516</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>11.74</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-03-06</value></exerciseDate><
expirationDate><value>2010-03-06</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8516</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12316</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Barbara Cummings</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-25</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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