Tidewater Utilities, Inc. Named "Best in the Business"

DOVER, DE--(Marketwire - August 14, 2009) - Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ: MSEX) a provider
of water and wastewater services in New Jersey and Delaware, today
announced that its wholly owned, regulated Delaware subsidiary, Tidewater
Utilities, Inc., has been named "Best in the Business" in a survey
conducted for The Delaware News Journal by Workplace Dynamics, a workplace
consulting firm.

Tidewater Utilities, Inc. is a water utility serving more than 42,000 homes
and businesses in over 370 residential communities and 590 commercial
establishments throughout Delaware. The "Best in the Business" list
identifies leading workplaces in Delaware, based upon the opinions of their
employees. Tidewater was recognized as one of the top 15 out of 40 medium
sized employers who participated in the survey. Medium companies are those
firms employing 76-240 employees in Delaware.

Gerard L. Esposito, President of Tidewater Utilities, Inc., said, "We are
delighted to achieve this distinction for the third time. We appreciate
our employees' vote of confidence and are deeply proud of the dedication
and commitment demonstrated by our employees in delivering quality service
on a daily basis."

Tidewater Utilities, Inc. operates 176 wells and 89 water plants. In 2008,
the Company delivered more than 2.1 billion gallons of water throughout its
service area, which extends from lower New Castle County in the north of
Delaware to Sussex County near the state's southern border and into
Maryland. Tidewater Utilities is the largest private water supplier south
of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal. For more information about Tidewater,
visit www.tuiwater.com or call 800-523-7224.

Middlesex Water Company, organized in 1897, is the parent company of
Tidewater and provides regulated and unregulated water and wastewater
utility services in New Jersey and Delaware through various subsidiary
companies. In July 2009, Middlesex Water was named one of America's 100
Fastest-Growing Publicly Traded Small Companies by Fortune Small Business
Magazine. For additional information regarding Middlesex Water Company,
visit www.middlesexwater.com or call (732) 634-1500.