<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001252013-06-000001
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20060511
<FILING-DATE>20060515
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20060515
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>WATERS CORP /DE/
<CIK>0001000697
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3826
<IRS-NUMBER>133668640
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>34 MAPLE ST
<CITY>MILFORD
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01757
<PHONE>5084782000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>34 MAPLE STREET
<CITY>MILFORD
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01757
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>WCD INVESTORS INC /DE/
<DATE-CHANGED>19960605
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>REED JOANN A
<CIK>0001252013
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-14010
<FILM-NUMBER>06837549
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>100 PARSONS POND DRIVE
<CITY>FRANKLIN LAKES
<STATE>NJ
<ZIP>07417
<PHONE>201-269-5600
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-05-11</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001000697</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WATERS CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WAT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001252013</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>REED JOANN A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>34 MAPLE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MILFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01757-3696</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>JOANN A REED</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
