<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-15-003496.txt : 20150226
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-15-003496.hdr.sgml : 20150226
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20150226165203
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-15-003496
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20150226
FILED AS OF DATE:		20150226
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20150226

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ECOLAB INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000031462
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SOAP, DETERGENT, CLEANING PREPARATIONS, PERFUMES, COSMETICS [2840]
		IRS NUMBER:				410231510
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ECOLAB CORPORATE CENTER
		STREET 2:		370 WABASHA STREET NORTH
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55102
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6512932233

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ECOLAB CORPORATE CENTER
		STREET 2:		370 WABASHA STREET NORTH
		CITY:			ST. PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55102

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ECONOMICS LABORATORY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19861203

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			McKibben Tracy B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001584119

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09328
		FILM NUMBER:		15653337

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 RIVERSIDE BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		#3S
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10069
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-02-26</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000031462</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ECOLAB INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ECL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001584119</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>McKibben Tracy B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ECOLAB INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>370 WABASHA STREET NORTH</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAINT PAUL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55102</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>No securities or derivative securities are beneficially owned.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/David F. Duvick, as attorney-in-fact for Tracy B. McKibben</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-02-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>tmckibben.txt
<DESCRIPTION>TRACY B. MCKIBBEN POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>
POWER OF ATTORNEY

       	KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
        appoints each of James J. Seifert, Theodore D. Herzog, and David F.
        Duvick, signing singly, as the undersigned's true and lawful
        attorney-in-fact to:

 (1)	prepare, execute in the undersigned's name and on the undersigned's
 	behalf, and submit to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") a Form ID, including amendments thereto, and any other
documents necessary or appropriate to obtain codes and passwords
enabling the undersigned to make electronic filings with the SEC of
reports required by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 or any rule or regulation of the SEC;

(2)	execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's
capacity as an officer and/or director of Ecolab Inc. (the
"Company"), Forms 3, 4, and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder, and
any other forms or reports the undersigned may be required to file
in connection with the undersigned's ownership, acquisition, or
disposition of securities of the Company;

(3)		do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and
execute any such Form 3, 4, or 5, or other form or report; complete
and execute any amendment or amendments thereto; and timely file
such form with the SEC and any stock exchange or similar authority;
and

(4)	take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the
foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of
benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required by, the
undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by
such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this
Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such
terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such
attorney-in-fact's discretion.

       	The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power
        and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever
        requisite, necessary, or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the
        rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes
        as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full
        power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all
        that such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact's substitute or
        substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this
        power of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted.  The
        undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in
        serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not
        assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned's
        responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange
        Act of 1934.

       	This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
        undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with respect
        to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued
        by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed
        writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

       	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to
        be executed as of this 2nd day of February, 2015.



/s/ Tracy B. McKibben______________
Tracy B. McKibben




\\\DC - 57385/2 - #1301253 v1


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
