SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                        Washington, DC 20549


                              FORM 8-K

                           CURRENT REPORT

               Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the 
                   Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)  August 19, 1997 



                        IONICS, INCORPORATED                 
       (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



      Massachusetts                1-7211              04-2068530     
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission)         (IRS Employer
    of incorporation)           File Number)      Identification No.)




  65 Grove Street, Watertown, MA                       02172         
(Address of principal executive offices)            (ZIP Code)




Registrant's telephone number, including area code   (617) 926-2500 












/1








ITEM 5.  Other Events

        On August 19, 1997, the Board of Directors of Ionics, Incorporated
(the "Company") approved the renewal of the Company's existing stockholder
rights agreement by adopting a Renewed Rights Agreement between the Company
and BankBoston, N.A., as rights agent (the "Renewed Rights Agreement").
Pursuant to the Renewed Rights Agreement, one new right (a "Right") will be
issued for each share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the
Company (the "Common Stock") (i) outstanding upon the "Expiration Date" as
such term is defined in the Company's existing rights agreement dated as of
December 22, 1987 between the Company and The First National Bank of Boston
(currently known as BankBoston, N.A.) (the "Record Date"); (ii) for each
share of Common Stock issued between the Record Date and the Distribution
Date (as defined in the Renewed Rights Agreement); and (iii) under certain
circumstances thereafter.  Each new Right will initially represent the
right to purchase from the Company one share of Common Stock, upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Renewed Rights
Agreement.  The new Rights are redeemable under certain circumstances at
$.01 per Right and will expire on August 19, 2007, subject to extension or
earlier redemption.

        The description and terms of the new Rights are set forth in the
Renewed Rights Agreement, a copy of which is filed herewith and is
incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

Exhibits

  1.     Form of Renewed Rights Agreement, dated as of August 19, 1997,
         between the Company and BankBoston N.A.













                                    -2-

/2





                             SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                       IONICS, INCORPORATED



Date: August 27, 1997                By:/s/Arthur L. Goldstein     
                                        Arthur L. Goldstein
                                        Chairman and 
                                        Chief Executive Officer


































                                    -3-

/3





                        

                            EXHIBIT INDEX


                                                              Sequentially
                                                                Numbered
Exhibit No.             Description                               Page    

    1.                  Form of Renewed Rights Agreement            5
                        dated as of August 19, 1997
                        between the Company and 
                        BankBoston N.A.





































/4                                  -4-
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "IONICS INC", "cik": "0000052466", "assigned-sic": "3559", "irs-number": "042068530", "state-of-incorporation": "MA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-07211", "film-number": "97670467"}, "business-address": {"street1": "65 GROVE ST", "city": "WATERTOWN", "state": "MA", "zip": "02172", "phone": "6179262500"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                        Washington, DC 20549

                              FORM 8-K

                           CURRENT REPORT

               Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the 
                   Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)  August 19, 1997 

                        IONICS, INCORPORATED                 
       (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

      Massachusetts                1-7211              04-2068530     
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission)         (IRS Employer
    of incorporation)           File Number)      Identification No.)

  65 Grove Street, Watertown, MA                       02172         
(Address of principal executive offices)            (ZIP Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code   (617) 926-2500 

/1

ITEM 5.  Other Events

        On August 19, 1997, the Board of Directors of Ionics, Incorporated
(the "Company") approved the renewal of the Company's existing stockholder
rights agreement by adopting a Renewed Rights Agreement between the Company
and BankBoston, N.A., as rights agent (the "Renewed Rights Agreement").
Pursuant to the Renewed Rights Agreement, one new right (a "Right") will be
issued for each share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the
Company (the "Common Stock") (i) outstanding upon the "Expiration Date" as
such term is defined in the Company's existing rights agreement dated as of
December 22, 1987 between the Company and The First National Bank of Boston
(currently known as BankBoston, N.A.) (the "Record Date"); (ii) for each
share of Common Stock issued between the Record Date and the Distribution
Date (as defined in the Renewed Rights Agreement); and (iii) under certain
circumstances thereafter.  Each new Right will initially represent the
right to purchase from the Company one share of Common Stock, upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Renewed Rights
Agreement.  The new Rights are redeemable under certain circumstances at
$.01 per Right and will expire on August 19, 2007, subject to extension or
earlier redemption.

        The description and terms of the new Rights are set forth in the
Renewed Rights Agreement, a copy of which is filed herewith and is
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

Exhibits

  1.     Form of Renewed Rights Agreement, dated as of August 19, 1997,
         between the Company and BankBoston N.A.

                                    -2-

/2

                             SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                       IONICS, INCORPORATED

Date: August 27, 1997                By:/s/Arthur L. Goldstein     
                                        Arthur L. Goldstein
                                        Chairman and 
                                        Chief Executive Officer

                                    -3-

/3

                        

                            EXHIBIT INDEX

                                                              Sequentially
                                                                Numbered
Exhibit No.             Description                               Page    

    1.                  Form of Renewed Rights Agreement            5
                        dated as of August 19, 1997
                        between the Company and 
                        BankBoston N.A.

/4                                  -4-