content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001308348</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0000066004</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MIDDLESEX WATER CO</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>000-00422</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>485C ROUTE 1 SOUTH</com:street1>
          <com:street2>SUITE 400</com:street2>
          <com:city>ISELIN</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>08830</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>7326341500</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Doll Dennis W</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>245 Summer Street</com:street1>
            <com:city>Boston</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>MA</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>02110</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>4067</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>253252.09</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>17887454</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>03/17/2025</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>04/14/2022</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>4067</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>04/14/2022</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>03/17/2025</noticeDate>
        <signature>/s/ Daniel Gardea as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Doll Dennis W.</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
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text: 144
  0001308348
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000066004
  MIDDLESEX WATER CO
  000-00422
  485C ROUTE 1 SOUTH
  SUITE 400
  ISELIN
  NJ
  08830
  7326341500
  Doll Dennis W
  Director
  Common
  Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
  245 Summer Street
  Boston
  MA
  02110
  4067
  253252.09
  17887454
  03/17/2025
  NASDAQ
  Common
  04/14/2022
  Stock Award
  Issuer
  N
  4067
  04/14/2022
  Compensation
  Y
  03/17/2025
  /s/ Daniel Gardea as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Doll Dennis W.