-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 HgsChIyrwOFCK2V+VsuYKw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001063339-09-000002.txt : 20090713
<SEC-HEADER>0001063339-09-000002.hdr.sgml : 20090713
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090713182810
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001063339-09-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081017
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090713
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090713

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOUTHWEST WATER CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000092472
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WATER SUPPLY [4941]
		IRS NUMBER:				951840947
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE WILSHIRE BUILDING
		STREET 2:		624 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE, SUITE 2900
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90017-3782
		BUSINESS PHONE:		213 929 1800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE WILSHIRE BUILDING
		STREET 2:		624 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE, SUITE 2900
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90017-3782

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SUBURBAN WATER SYSTEMS
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19751202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEWMAN RICHARD G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001063339

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08176
		FILM NUMBER:		09942653

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AECOM TECHNOLOGY CORP
		STREET 2:		3250 WILSHIRE BLVD 5TH FL
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90017
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-10-17</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2008-11-05</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000092472</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHWEST WATER CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SWWC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001063339</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NEWMAN RICHARD G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>624 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE, SUITE 2900</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6508</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>84796</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired pursuant to a dividend reinvestment program which were not previously reported on the Form 4 filed on 11/5/08 or on any earlier Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Purchase price shown is based on an average price over the period of years during which the dividend reinvestment shares were acquired.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 77,818 shares that were previously reported as held directly.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Shares are held in a Trust Account for the benefit of the reporting person's family.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Barbara Libutti, Attorney in Fact  For: Richard G Newman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-07-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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