-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AlT32AX+L8YTaeTU/iNH8cb6/mra5JB4t7J27+CjT6gR7xmxZJE7jjlmPIYU0ZcW
 a1qp5s8OSzxNzsolHIpp1Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-09-026450.txt : 20090522
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-09-026450.hdr.sgml : 20090522
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090521181423
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-09-026450
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090519
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090521
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090521

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THOMAS GREGORY S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001434659

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14431
		FILM NUMBER:		09846424

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		44593 CAMINO GONZALES
		CITY:			TEMECULA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92592

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN STATES WATER CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001056903
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WATER SUPPLY [4941]
		IRS NUMBER:				954676679
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		630 E FOOTHILL BLVD
		CITY:			SAN DIMAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91773-9016
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9093943600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		630 E FOOTHILL
		CITY:			SAN DIMAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91773-9016
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd243625.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-05-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001056903</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN STATES WATER CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AWR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001434659</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THOMAS GREGORY S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>44593 CAMINO GONZALES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TEMECULA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92592</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>86</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.73</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1714.7783</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">199 previously reported RSU's vested on 5/19/09 of which 86 were withheld to satisfy tax withholding</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gregory S. Thomas</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-05-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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