-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 WE+HBYDaw6YkUALt35kgGR+mzB8Wj8zG1F4/QUweG3MXCWo+SC+8oJ7m1y8N401L
 OvAFnQur2ZraBiApziPHUg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001194707-03-000013.txt : 20031219
<SEC-HEADER>0001194707-03-000013.hdr.sgml : 20031219
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031219163146
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001194707-03-000013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031218
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031219

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GLANTON RICHARD H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001060493

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06659
		FILM NUMBER:		031065597

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THE WACKENHUT CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		4200 WACKENHUT DRIVE #100
		CITY:			PALM BEACH GARDENS
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33410-4243

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THE WACKENHUT CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		4200 WACKENHUT DRIVE # 100
		CITY:			PALM BEACH GARDENS
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33410-4243

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001060493d20031219f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-18</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000078128</issuerCik><issuerName>PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>PSC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001060493</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>GLANTON RICHARD H</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>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeT
able><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8911</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-18</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>370</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>20.57</value>
</transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-12-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>370</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>370</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-18</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCodi
ng><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>18</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-12-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>18</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>388</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershi
pNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">1 for 1</footnote><footnote id="F2">Phantom stock units are settled in cash or stock payable upon termination of recipient</footnote><footnote id="F3">Phantom Stock acquired through dividend reinvestment</footnote><footnote id="F4">Total Phantom shares (4,137) owned reflects 5-for-4 stock split on December 1, 2003</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Barbara Cummings Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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