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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,
 WPgNydQuc/ZHNX1QvW6I9qAFhzRGMhZNipjh2N5qFzfn7G5WMmrk3M6HDIWeiWRm
 w2P8GnONDxp1KJpHP5FZYw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001202217-03-000005.txt : 20031216
<SEC-HEADER>0001202217-03-000005.hdr.sgml : 20031216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031216144502
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001202217-03-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031203
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031216

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMELTZER DAVID
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001202217

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06659
		FILM NUMBER:		031057107

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN CORP
		STREET 2:		762 W LANCASTER AVE
		CITY:			BRYN MAWR
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19010
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6106451196

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>c0001202217d20031216f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-03</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000078128</issuerCik><issuerName>PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>PSC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001202217</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>SMELTZER DAVID</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>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>SR. VICE PRESIDENT &amp; CFO</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></repor
tingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-03</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-12-03</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>94</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>21.08</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>27834</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDeri
vativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK 401K</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7485</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Roy Stahl or Barbara Cummings</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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