-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BGBe48ZshyRSJ5pStUKOXP1oFhpwvJBWr/NQLuBmmoDf2c6seWTnTq1tV3z928pT
 GMbLmXx8cdASpfWNq8eN0A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001249438-04-000001.txt : 20040209
<SEC-HEADER>0001249438-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040209
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040209170317
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001249438-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031228
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040209

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GLACIER WATER SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000883505
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-NONSTORE RETAILERS [5960]
		IRS NUMBER:				330493559
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1226

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2651 LA MIRADA DRIVE, SUITE 100
		CITY:			VISTA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92083-8435
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7605601111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2651 LA MIRADA DRIVE, SUITE 100
		CITY:			VISTA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92083-8435

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARMSTRONG WILLIAM A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001254552

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11012
		FILM NUMBER:		04578626

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4035 NATASHA DRIVE
		CITY:			LAFAYETTE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94549
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9252847283

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4035 NATASHA DRIVE
		CITY:			LAFAYETTE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94549
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>1</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000883505</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GLACIER WATER SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HOO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001254552</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ARMSTRONG WILLIAM A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4035 NATASHA DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAFAYETTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94549</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.43</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-05-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>L</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-05-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-05-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5375</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1994 Stock Compensation Program (100% on first annuversary of Grant Date)</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William Armstrong</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-02-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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