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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                    [Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP Letterhead]


July 26, 2005


Artesian Resource Corporation
664 Churchmans Road
Newark, Delaware 19702

Re:      Artesian Resources Corporation, Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Artesian Resources Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the filing of a Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC"). The Registration Statement relates to 500,000 shares (the "Shares") of
the Company's Class A Non-Voting Common Stock, $1.00 par value, issuable under
the Artesian Resources Corporation 2005 Equity Compensation Plan (the "Plan").

In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined the Registration
Statement and originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our
satisfaction, of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
Company and such other documents, records and instruments as we have deemed
appropriate for purposes of the opinion set forth herein.

We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all
natural persons, the authenticity of the documents submitted to us as originals,
the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as certified,
facsimile or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of all
documents submitted to us as copies.

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that Shares have been duly
authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered by the Company in the
manner and on the terms described in the Plan, will be validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable.

The opinions expressed herein are limited to the Delaware General Corporation
Law.

We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the Registration
Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are acting
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Act or the rules or regulations of the SEC thereunder.

Very truly yours,


MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP


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