UNITED STATES FILTER CORP
424B3, 1997-07-08
REFRIGERATION & SERVICE INDUSTRY MACHINERY
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PROSPECTUS                                      Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
April 28, 1997                                  File No. 333-24465


                                2,291,059 SHARES

                        UNITED STATES FILTER CORPORATION

                                  COMMON STOCK
                           (PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE)
                              -------------------

      This prospectus provides for the offering by the Selling Stockholder named
herein (the  "Selling  Stockholder")  of up to an aggregate of 2,291,059  shares
(the "Shares") of the Common Stock,  par value $.01 per share ("Common  Stock"),
of United States Filter Corporation (the "Company"). The Shares were acquired by
the Selling Stockholder named herein on April 1, 1997 pursuant to the terms of a
Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and Wheelabrator  Technologies Inc.
("WTI")  dated as of February  20, 1997 (the "Stock  Purchase  Agreement").  The
Shares were issued in  consideration  of the  acquisition  by the Company of the
issued  and  outstanding  membership  interests  or shares of  capital  stock of
Wheelabrator  EOS Inc.,  Wheelabrator  EOS of Wilmington LLC,  Wheelabrator  EOS
Canada  Inc.  and  Wheelabrator  Mexicana  S.A.  de  C.V.  (collectively,   "EOS
Subsidiaries"). See "Selling Stockholder."

      The Shares may be  offered  or sold by or for the  account of the  Selling
Stockholder  from time to time on one or more exchanges or otherwise,  at prices
and on terms to be determined at the time of sale, to purchasers  directly or by
or through  brokers or  dealers,  who may  receive  compensation  in the form of
discounts,  commissions or  concessions.  The Selling  Stockholder  and any such
brokers or dealers may be deemed to be "underwriters"  within the meaning of the
United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and any
discounts,  concessions and commissions received by any such brokers and dealers
may be deemed to be  underwriting  commissions or discounts under the Securities
Act.  The  Company  will not receive  any of the  proceeds  from any sale of the
Shares offered hereby. See "Use of Proceeds," "Selling Stockholder" and "Plan of
Distribution."

      The Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and
traded under the symbol  "USF." The last reported sale price of the Common Stock
on the NYSE on April 25, 1997 was $26.00 per share.
                              ---------------------

      SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 4 FOR CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS RELEVANT
TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMON STOCK.
                              ---------------------

<PAGE>

         THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
         COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR
           ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY
              OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION
                    TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.


<PAGE>

                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

      The  Company is subject to the  informational  requirements  of the United
States Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance  therewith files periodic reports,  proxy solicitation  materials and
other   information   with  the   Securities   and  Exchange   Commission   (the
"Commission").  Such reports, proxy solicitation materials and other information
can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C. 20549
and at the  Commission's  Regional  Offices located at Seven World Trade Center,
Suite  1300,  New York,  New York 10048 and  Citicorp  Center  500 West  Madison
Street, Suite 1400, Chicago,  Illinois 60661-2511.  Copies of such materials can
be  obtained  from the Public  Reference  Section of the  Commission,  450 Fifth
Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.  20549,  at prescribed  rates.  The Commission
maintains a Web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and
other  information  regarding  registrants  that  file  electronically  with the
Commission. Such reports, proxy and information statements and other information
may be  found on the  Commission's  Web site  address,  http://www.sec.gov.  The
Common Stock is listed on the NYSE. Such reports,  proxy solicitation  materials
and other  information  can also be inspected and copied at the NYSE at 20 Broad
Street, New York, New York 10005.

      The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form
S-3 (herein,  together  with all  amendments  and  exhibits,  referred to as the
"Registration  Statement") under the Securities Act with respect to the offering
made hereby.  This  Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth
in the  Registration  Statement,  certain  portions  of  which  are  omitted  in
accordance  with the rules and  regulations of the  Commission.  Such additional
information  may  be  obtained  from  the   Commission's   principal  office  in
Washington,  D.C. as set forth  above.  For further  information,  reference  is
hereby made to the  Registration  Statement,  including the exhibits  filed as a
part  thereof  or  otherwise  incorporated  herein.   Statements  made  in  this
Prospectus as to the contents of any documents  referred to are not  necessarily
complete,  and in each  instance  reference  is made to such  exhibit for a more
complete description and each such statement is modified in its entirety by such
reference.


                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

      The following  documents  filed by the Company (File No. 1-10728) with the
Commission  pursuant to the  Exchange Act are  incorporated  by  reference:  The
Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996;
the Company's Quarterly Reports for the quarters ended June 30, 1996,  September
30, 1996 and December 31, 1996;  and the Company's  Current  Reports on Form 8-K
dated May 31,  1996 (as  amended on Form 8-K/A  dated June 28,  1996),  June 10,
1996, June 27, 1996, July 15, 1996 (two


                                       2
<PAGE>

such Current Reports),  August 23, 1996, September 6, 1996, October 28, 1996 (as
amended on Form 8-K/A dated  December 19, 1996),  November 6, 1996,  December 2,
1996 and January 6, 1997; and the  description of the Common Stock  contained in
the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as the same may be amended.

      All documents and reports  subsequently  filed by the Company  pursuant to
Section  13(a),  13(c),  14 or 15(d) of the  Exchange Act after the date of this
Prospectus and prior to the  termination of the offering made by this Prospectus
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein. Any statement  contained
herein or in a document  incorporated  or deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein  shall be  deemed to be  modified  or  superseded  for  purposes  of this
Prospectus  to  the  extent  that  a  statement   contained  herein  or  in  any
subsequently  filed  document  which  is or is  deemed  to  be  incorporated  by
reference  herein modifies or supersedes  such statement.  Any such statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

      The Company will provide to each person to whom a copy of this  Prospectus
is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, without charge, a
copy of any or all of the documents that are  incorporated  herein by reference,
other than exhibits to such  information  (unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference into such  documents).  Requests should be directed to
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, United States Filter Corporation,
40-004 Cook Street, Palm Desert, California 92211 (telephone (760) 340-0098).


                                   THE COMPANY

      The Company is a leading global provider of industrial and municipal water
and wastewater treatment systems,  products and services, with an installed base
of systems  that the  Company  believes  is one of the  largest  worldwide.  The
Company offers a  single-source  solution to industrial and municipal  customers
through  what  the  Company  believes  is  the  industry's   broadest  range  of
cost-effective systems, products, services and proven technologies. In addition,
the  Company  has one of the  industry's  largest  networks of sales and service
facilities.  The Company  capitalizes  on its large  installed  base,  extensive
distribution  network and  manufacturing  capabilities to provide customers with
ongoing local service and maintenance. The Company is also a leading provider of
service  deionization and outsourced water services,  including the operation of
water and wastewater treatment systems at customer sites.

      The  Company's  principal  executive  offices  are  located at 40-004 Cook
Street,  Palm  Desert,  California  92211,  and its  telephone  number  is (760)
340-0098.  References  herein  to the  Company  refer to  United  States  Filter
Corporation and its subsidiaries, unless 

                                       3
<PAGE>

the context requires otherwise.


                                  RISK FACTORS

      Prospective  investors  should  consider  carefully the following  factors
relating to the business of the Company, together with the other information and
financial data included or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus,  before
acquiring the securities offered hereby.  Information  contained or incorporated
by reference in this Prospectus includes "forward-looking  statements" which can
be  identified by the use of  forward-looking  terminology  such as  "believes,"
"contemplates,"  "expects," "may," "will," "should," "would" or "anticipates" or
the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable  terminology.  No
assurance can be given that the future  results  covered by the  forward-looking
statements  will  be  achieved.  The  following  matters  constitute  cautionary
statements  identifying  important factors with respect to such  forward-looking
statements,  including certain risks and uncertainties,  that could cause actual
results  to  vary   materially   from  the  future   results   covered  in  such
forward-looking  statements.  Other factors  could also cause actual  results to
vary  materially  from  the  future  results  covered  in  such  forward-looking
statements.


ACQUISITION STRATEGY

      In pursuit of its  strategic  objective  of becoming  the  leading  global
single-source  provider of water and wastewater  treatment systems and services,
the Company has, since 1991,  acquired and successfully  integrated more than 50
United States based and  international  businesses with strong market  positions
and substantial water and wastewater treatment  expertise.  The Company plans to
continue to pursue  acquisitions that complement its technologies,  products and
services,  broaden its customer base and expand its global distribution network.
The  Company's  acquisition  strategy  entails the potential  risks  inherent in
assessing the value, strengths, weaknesses,  contingent or other liabilities and
potential  profitability  of  acquisition  candidates  and  in  integrating  the
operations  of  acquired  companies.  Although  the Company  generally  has been
successful  in  pursuing  these  acquisitions,  there can be no  assurance  that
acquisition  opportunities will continue to be available,  that the Company will
have access to the capital required to finance potential acquisitions,  that the
Company will continue to acquire  businesses or that any business  acquired will
be integrated successfully or prove profitable.


INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS

      The Company has made and expects it will continue to make acquisitions and
expects to obtain  contracts in markets outside

                                       4
<PAGE>

the United States.  While these activities may provide  important  opportunities
for the Company to offer its products and  services  internationally,  they also
entail the risks associated with conducting business internationally,  including
the risk of currency fluctuations,  slower payment of invoices,  nationalization
and possible social, political and economic instability.


RELIANCE ON KEY PERSONNEL

      The Company's  operations are dependent on the continued efforts of senior
management,  in particular  Richard J. Heckmann,  the Company's  Chairman of the
Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. There are no employment agreements
between the Company and the  members of its senior  management,  except  Thierry
Reyners, the Company's Executive Vice  President--European  Group. Should any of
the senior  managers be unable or choose not to continue in their present roles,
the Company's prospects could be adversely affected.


PROFITABILITY OF FIXED PRICE CONTRACTS

      A significant  portion of the Company's revenues are generated under fixed
price  contracts.  To the extent that  original cost  estimates are  inaccurate,
costs to complete  increase,  delivery schedules are delayed or progress under a
contract is otherwise  impeded,  revenue  recognition and  profitability  from a
particular  contract may be adversely  affected.  The Company  routinely records
upward or downward  adjustments  with  respect to fixed price  contracts  due to
changes  in  estimates  of costs to  complete  such  contracts.  There can be no
assurance that future downward adjustments will not be material.


CYCLICALITY AND SEASONALITY

      The sale of capital  equipment  within  the water  treatment  industry  is
cyclical and influenced by various economic factors including interest rates and
general  fluctuations  of the  business  cycle.  A  significant  portion  of the
Company's  revenues are derived from capital equipment sales.  While the Company
sells  capital  equipment  to  customers  in  diverse  industries  and in global
markets,  cyclicality  of capital  equipment  sales and  instability  of general
economic  conditions could have an adverse effect on the Company's  revenues and
profitability.

      The sale of water and  wastewater  distribution  equipment and supplies is
also cyclical and  influenced by various  economic  factors  including  interest
rates, land development and housing construction  industry cycles. Sales of such
equipment  and  supplies are also  subject to seasonal  fluctuation  in northern

                                       5
<PAGE>

climates.  The sale of water and wastewater  distribution equipment and supplies
is  a  significant   component  of  the  Company's  business.   Cyclicality  and
seasonality  of water and wastewater  distribution  equipment and supplies sales
could have an adverse effect on the Company's revenues and profitability.

POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS

      The Company's business and products may be significantly influenced by the
constantly  changing body of environmental  laws and regulations,  which require
that certain environmental standards be met and impose liability for the failure
to comply with such  standards.  The Company is also  subject to inherent  risks
associated with  environmental  conditions at facilities owned, and the state of
compliance with environmental laws, by businesses acquired by the Company. While
the  Company  endeavors  at each of its  facilities  to assure  compliance  with
environmental laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that the Company's
operations or  activities,  or historical  operations by others at the Company's
locations, will not result in cleanup obligations, civil or criminal enforcement
actions or private  actions  that  could have a material  adverse  effect on the
Company. In that regard federal and state environmental  regulatory  authorities
have commenced civil enforcement  actions related to alleged multiple violations
of applicable wastewater  pretreatment standards by a wholly owned subsidiary of
the Company at a Connecticut ion exchange  regeneration facility acquired by the
Company in October 1995 from Anjou International Company ("Anjou"). A grand jury
investigation is pending which is believed to relate to the same conditions that
were the  subject  of the civil  actions.  The  Company  has  certain  rights of
indemnification from Anjou which may be available with respect to these matters.
In addition, the Company's activities as owner and operator of certain hazardous
waste  treatment  and  recovery  facilities  are subject to  stringent  laws and
regulations and compliance  reviews.  Failure of these facilities to comply with
those  regulations  could  result in  substantial  fines and the  suspension  or
revocation of the  facility's  hazardous  waste permit.  In other  matters,  the
Company has been notified by the United States  Environmental  Protection Agency
that it is a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental
Response,  Compensation,  and Liability Act ("CERCLA") at certain sites to which
the Company or its predecessors allegedly sent waste in the past. It is possible
that the Company  could  receive  other such  notices  under CERCLA or analogous
state laws in the future.  The Company does not believe that its  liability,  if
any,  relating  to such  matters  will be  material.  However,  there  can be no
assurance that such matters will not be material.  In addition,  to some extent,
the  liabilities  and  risks  imposed  by  environmental  laws on the  Company's
customers may adversely  impact demand for certain of the Company's  products or
services or impose  greater  liabilities  and risks on the Company,  which could
also have an adverse effect on the Company's competitive or financial position.


                                       6
<PAGE>

COMPETITION

      The water and  wastewater  treatment  industry  is  fragmented  and highly
competitive.   The  Company   competes   with  many  United   States  based  and
international  companies  in  its  global  markets.  The  principal  methods  of
competition in the markets in which the Company competes are technology,  prompt
availability  of  local  service  capability,   price,  product  specifications,
customized  design,   product  knowledge  and  reputation,   ability  to  obtain
sufficient  performance  bonds,  timely  delivery,  the relative  ease of system
operation and maintenance,  and the prompt availability of replacement parts. In
the   municipal   contract  bid  process,   pricing  and  ability  to  meet  bid
specifications are the primary considerations. While no competitor is considered
dominant,  there are competitors which have significantly greater resources than
the Company,  which, among other things, could be a competitive  disadvantage to
the Company in securing certain projects.


TECHNOLOGICAL AND REGULATORY CHANGE

      The water and wastewater  treatment  business is characterized by changing
technology, competitively imposed process standards and regulatory requirements,
each of which  influences  the demand for the  Company's  products and services.
Changes in  regulatory  or  industrial  requirements  may render  certain of the
Company's treatment products and processes obsolete.  Acceptance of new products
may also be affected by the  adoption of new  government  regulations  requiring
stricter  standards.  The Company's ability to anticipate  changes in technology
and  regulatory  standards  and to develop  successfully  and  introduce new and
enhanced  products  on a  timely  basis  will  be a  significant  factor  in the
Company's ability to grow and to remain  competitive.  There can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to achieve the technological  advances that may be
necessary for it to remain  competitive or that certain of its products will not
become  obsolete.  In  addition,  the Company is subject to the risks  generally
associated with new product  introductions and  applications,  including lack of
market  acceptance,  delays in  development  or failure of  products  to operate
properly.


MUNICIPAL AND WASTEWATER MARKET

      A significant  percentage of the Company's revenues derived from municipal
customers.  While municipalities  represent an important market in the water and
wastewater  treatment industry,  contractor  selection processes and funding for
projects in the municipal  sector entail certain  additional risks not typically
encountered with industrial customers.  Competition for selection of a municipal
contractor  typically  occurs through a formal 


                                       7
<PAGE>

bidding  process which can require the commitment of  significant  resources and
greater  lead  times  than  industrial  projects.  In  addition,  demand  in the
municipal  market is  dependent  upon the  availability  of funding at the local
level, which may be the subject of increasing  pressure as local governments are
expected to bear a greater share of the cost of public services.

      A company recently  acquired by the Company,  Zimpro  Environmental,  Inc.
("Zimpro"),  is party to certain  agreements  (entered  into in 1990 at the time
Zimpro was acquired from  unrelated  third parties by the entities from which it
was later acquired by the Company), pursuant to which Zimpro agreed, among other
things, to pay the original sellers a royalty of 3.0% of its annual consolidated
net sales of certain  products in excess of $35.0  million  through  October 25,
2000. Under certain  interpretations of such agreements,  with which the Company
disagrees,  Zimpro  could be liable for such  royalties  with respect to the net
sales  attributable  to  products,  systems  and  services  of  certain  defined
wastewater  treatment  businesses  acquired  by  Zimpro  or the  Company  or the
Company's other subsidiaries after May 31, 1996. The defined businesses include,
among  others,   manufacturing   machinery  and  equipment,   and   engineering,
installation,  operation  and  maintenance  services  related  thereto,  for the
treatment  and  disposal of waste  liquids,  toxic waste and sludge.  One of the
prior sellers has revealed in a letter to the Company an interpretation contrary
to that of the  Company.  The Company  believes  that it would have  meritorious
defenses to any claim based upon any such  interpretation  and would  vigorously
pursue  the  elimination  of any  threat to expand  what it  believes  to be its
obligations pursuant to such agreements.


SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

      The market price of the Common  Stock could be  adversely  affected by the
availability for public sale of shares held on April 1, 1997 by security holders
of the Company,  including: (i) up to 3,750,093 shares which may be delivered by
Laidlaw Inc. or its affiliates ("Laidlaw"), at Laidlaw's option in lieu of cash,
at  maturity  pursuant  to the  terms of 5-3/4%  Exchangeable  Notes due 2000 of
Laidlaw (the amount of shares or cash  delivered or paid to be dependent  within
certain  limits upon the value of the Common Stock at maturity);  (ii) 7,636,363
shares  issuable upon  conversion of the Company's 6%  Convertible  Subordinated
Notes due 2005 at a conversion price of $18.33 per share of Common Stock;  (iii)
9,113,924  shares issuable upon conversion of the Company's  4-1/2%  Convertible
Subordinated  Notes at a conversion  price of $39.50 per share of Common  Stock;
(iv) 2,744,918  outstanding shares that are currently  registered for sale under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities  Act"),  pursuant to two
shelf  registration  statements;  and (v) 2,780,522  shares which are subject to
agreements  pursuant to which the  holders  have  certain  rights to request the
Company to register the sale of such holders'  Common Stock under the Securities
Act

                                       8
<PAGE>

and/or,  subject to certain  conditions,  to include certain percentages of such
shares in other registration statements filed by the Company (1,980,000 of which
shares also may be sold from time to time by the holder thereof pursuant to Rule
144 under the Securities Act). In addition,  the Company has registered for sale
or filed  registration  statements  under the  Securities  Act with  respect  to
6,446,090  shares  which may be  issuable  by the  Company  from time to time in
connection with acquisitions of businesses or assets from third parties.


                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

      The Selling Stockholder will receive all of the net proceeds from any sale
of the Shares  offered  hereby,  and none of such proceeds will be available for
use by the Company or otherwise for the Company's benefit.


                               SELLING STOCKHOLDER

      The  Shares  which may be  offered  pursuant  to this  Prospectus  will be
offered by or for the account of Resco  Holdings  Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation
(the "Selling Stockholder"), a wholly owned subsidiary of WTI, which acquired an
aggregate of 2,291,059  shares of Common Stock on April 1, 1997  pursuant to the
Stock  Purchase  Agreement.  All of the Shares  are being  offered  hereby.  The
aggregate  number of shares of Common  Stock  beneficially  owned by the Selling
Stockholder  prior to the  offering  described  in this  Prospectus  constitutes
approximately 3.0% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on April 1, 1997.

      Pursuant to the Stock Purchase  Agreement,  the Company  acquired from the
Selling Stockholder and certain affiliates of the Selling Stockholder all of the
issued and  outstanding  membership  interests or shares of capital stock of the
EOS Subsidiaries.  In addition,  on December 2, 1996, pursuant to an Amended and
Restated  Purchase and Sale  Agreement  between WTI and the Company  dated as of
September  14,  1996  (the  "WSMG  Agreement"),  the  Company  acquired  certain
businesses and assets  comprising  WTI's Water Systems and  Manufacturing  Group
("WSMG") from the Selling  Stockholder and certain other  affiliates of WTI. The
WSMG Agreement provided for certain rights of indemnification  and certain other
ongoing  rights and  obligations  between the Company and WTI. In addition,  the
Company  and  WTI  or its  affiliates  entered  into  certain  agreements  on an
arms-length basis providing for ongoing  commercial  relationships in connection
with the  acquisition  of WSMG.  Other than as  described  herein,  the  Selling
Stockholder  does not have,  and within the past three  years did not have,  any
position,  office or other material  relationship with the Company or any of its
predecessors or affiliates.


                                       9
<PAGE>

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

      The  Shares  offered  hereby  may be sold  from time to time by or for the
account  of the  Selling  Stockholder  on one or more  exchanges  or  otherwise;
directly to  purchasers  in negotiated  transactions;  by or through  brokers or
dealers in ordinary brokerage  transactions or transactions in which a broker or
dealer,  which may include DLJ,  solicits  purchasers;  in block trades in which
brokers or dealers  will  attempt to sell Shares as agent but may  position  and
resell a portion of the block as principal; in transactions in which a broker or
dealer  purchases  as  principal  for  resale  for  its own  account;  or in any
combination  of the foregoing  methods.  Shares may be sold at a fixed  offering
price, which may be changed, at the prevailing market price at the time of sale,
at prices  related to such  prevailing  market  price or at  negotiated  prices.
Brokers or dealers may arrange for others to participate in any such transaction
and  may  receive  compensation  in  the  form  of  discounts,   commissions  or
concessions  payable by the Company and/or the purchasers of Shares. If required
at the time that a  particular  offer of Shares is made,  a  supplement  to this
Prospectus  will be delivered that describes any material  arrangements  for the
distribution  of  Shares  and the  terms  of the  offering,  including,  without
limitation,   any  discounts,   commissions  or  concessions   and  other  items
constituting compensation from the Selling Stockholder or otherwise. The Company
may agree to indemnify  participating  brokers or dealers  against certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

      WTI has  agreed  that  the  Selling  Stockholder  will not sell any of the
Shares until the earlier of the date the  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997 is filed with the  Commission  and June
30, 1997. WTI has also agreed that the Selling  Stockholder  will not dispose of
the Shares by means of placing a single sell order for 75% or more of the Shares
as a block at a price at or below the prevailing market price on the NYSE.

      The Selling  Stockholder  and any such brokers or dealers may be deemed to
be  "underwriters"  within the meaning of the Securities Act, in which event any
discounts,  commissions or  concessions  received by such brokers or dealers and
any profit on the resale of the Shares  purchased by such brokers or dealers may
be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.

      The Company has informed the Selling  Stockholder  that the  provisions of
Rules 10b-6 and 10b-7 under the  Exchange Act may apply to their sales of Shares
and has  furnished  the  Selling  Stockholder  with a copy of these  rules.  The
Company also has advised the Selling Stockholder of the requirement for delivery
of a prospectus in connection with any sale of the Shares.

                                       10
<PAGE>

      Any Shares covered by this  Prospectus  which qualify for sale pursuant to
Rule 144  under  the  Securities  Act may be sold  under  Rule 144  rather  than
pursuant to this Prospectus.  There is no assurance that the Selling Stockholder
will sell any or all of the Shares. The Selling Stockholder may transfer, devise
or gift such Shares by other means not described herein.

      The Company will pay all of the expenses,  including,  but not limited to,
fees and  expenses  of  compliance  with  state  securities  or "blue sky" laws,
incident to the  registration  of the Shares,  other than  commissions and other
selling expenses and any stock transfer taxes.



                            VALIDITY OF COMMON STOCK

      The validity of the Shares of Common Stock  offered  hereby will be passed
upon for the Company by Damian C. Georgino, Vice President,  General Counsel and
Secretary  of the  Company.  Mr.  Georgino  presently  holds  100  shares of the
Company's  Common Stock and options  granted under the  Company's  1991 Employee
Stock Option Plan to purchase an aggregate of 37,500 shares of Common Stock.


                   INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

      The consolidated  financial statements of United States Filter Corporation
and its  subsidiaries  as of March  31,  1995 and 1996 and for each of the three
years in the period ended March 31, 1996, except for the consolidated  financial
statements of Davis Water & Waste  Industries,  Inc. and its  subsidiaries as of
April 30,  1996 and 1995 and for each of the  three  years in the  period  ended
April  30,  1996,  have  been  audited  by KPMG Peat  Marwick  LLP,  independent
certified  public  accountants,  as  stated  in  their  report  incorporated  by
reference herein. The consolidated  financial  statements of Davis Water & Waste
Industries,  Inc. and its subsidiaries,  which have been consolidated with those
of the  Company,  have been audited by Price  Waterhouse  LLP as stated in their
report  incorporated  herein by  reference.  Such  financial  statements  of the
Company and its  consolidated  subsidiaries are incorporated by reference herein
in reliance  upon the report of such firms given on the  authority of said firms
as experts in accounting and auditing.

      The combined financial  statements of the Systems and Manufacturing  Group
of Wheelabrator  Technologies Inc. as of December 31, 1994 and 1995 and for each
of the  years in the  three  year  period  ended  December  31,  1995  have been
incorporated  by  reference  herein  in  reliance  upon the  report of KPMG Peat
Marwick  LLP,  independent   certified  public  accountants,   which  report  is
incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts
in accounting and auditing.

                                       11
<PAGE>

      The aggregated  financial  statements of the United  Utilities Plc Process
Equipment  Division  as of March 31,  1996 and 1995 and for each of the years in
the two-year  period ended March 31, 1996,  have been  incorporated by reference
herein in  reliance  upon the report of KPMG Audit  Plc,  independent  chartered
accountants,  which report is  incorporated  by reference  herein,  and upon the
authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

      The consolidated  financial  statements of Davis Water & Waste Industries,
Inc.  incorporated  in this  Prospectus  by reference to the audited  historical
financial  statements  included in United States Filter  Corporation's  Form 8-K
dated June 27, 1996 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Price
Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants,  given on the authority of said firm as
experts in auditing and accounting.

      The consolidated financial statements of Zimpro Environmental,  Inc. as of
December  31, 1995 and 1994 and for each of the three years in the period  ended
December 31, 1995 incorporated herein by reference, have been audited by Ernst &
Young  LLP,  independent   auditors,  as  set  forth  in  their  report  thereon
incorporated by reference  elsewhere  herein,  and are included in reliance upon
such report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in  accounting  and
auditing.

      The audited financial  statements of WaterPro  Supplies  Corporation as of
December  31, 1995 and for the period  from April 7, 1995 to  December  31, 1995
incorporated  by  reference  in this  prospectus  have  been  audited  by Arthur
Andersen LLP,  independent  public accountants as indicated in their report with
respect  thereto,  and are incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the
authority of said firm as experts in giving said report.


                                       12
<PAGE>


==================================   =====================================   

NO PERSON HAS BEEN  AUTHORIZED
TO GIVE ANY  INFORMATION OR TO
MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER
THAN THOSE  CONTAINED  IN THIS
PROSPECTUS,  AND,  IF GIVEN OR
MADE,   SUCH   INFORMATION  OR
REPRESENTATIONS  MUST  NOT  BE
RELIED  UPON  AS  HAVING  BEEN
AUTHORIZED.   THIS  PROSPECTUS
DOES NOT  CONSTITUTE  AN OFFER
TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF                 2,291,059 SHARES
AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES
OTHER THAN THE  SECURITIES  TO  
WHICH IT  RELATES  OR AN OFFER         UNITED STATES FILTER CORPORATION
TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF
AN    OFFER    TO   BUY   SUCH      
SECURITIES        IN       ANY                   COMMON STOCK
CIRCUMSTANCES  IN  WHICH  SUCH
OFFER   OR   SOLICITATION   IS
UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY
OF  THIS  PROSPECTUS  NOR  ANY
SALE  MADE  HEREUNDER   SHALL,
UNDER    ANY    CIRCUMSTANCES,
CREATE  ANY  IMPLICATION  THAT
THERE  HAS BEEN NO  CHANGE  IN
THE  AFFAIRS  OF  THE  COMPANY
SINCE THE DATE  HEREOF OR THAT
THE   INFORMATION    CONTAINED
HEREIN  IS  CORRECT  AS OF ANY
TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.

       -------------                            ---------------

     TABLE OF CONTENTS                            PROSPECTUS

                           PAGE                 ---------------
                                                  
Available Information.........2
Incorporation of Certain
Documents by Reference........2                 
The Company...................3
Risk Factors..................4              
Use of Proceeds...............9
Selling Stockholder...........9
Plan of Distribution.........10
Validity of Common Stock.....11
Independent Certified Public
Accountants..................11                 April 28, 1997

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