8-K

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

                             ----------------------
                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 10, 2005



                             SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)



            Delaware                       0-8176               95-1840947
    (State of Incorporation)      (Commission File Number)  (I.R.S. Employer
                                                            Identification No.)

One Wilshire Building
624 South Grand Avenue, Suite 2900
Los Angeles, CA                                                90017-3782
(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)

                                 (213) 929-1800
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                             ----------------------

(Former  name,  former  address and former  fiscal year,  if changed  since last
report date)

                             ----------------------


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[_]  Written  communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the  Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

[_]  Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)

[_]  Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[_]  Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))






Item 5.02 Departure of Directors of Principal  Officers;  Election of Directors;
          Appointment of Principal Officers


On November 10, 2005, the Company issued a press release announcing that in the
Company's third quarter earnings conference call on November 9, 2005, Chairman
of the Board and CEO Anton C. Garnier, 65, announced that in accordance with
prudent corporate governance practices, the Company has retained an executive
recruiting firm to begin a CEO search to include both internal and external
candidates. Mr. Garnier will continue to serve as CEO and Chairman of the Board
until a new CEO is in place, at which time he would continue as full-time
Chairman of the Board.


The  information  contained  in the  news  release  is  incorporated  herein  by
reference and furnished as Exhibit 99.1



Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c)      Exhibits


Exhibit
  No.                                   Description
- -------   -------------------------------------------------------------------
99.1      Press release dated November 10, 2005, announcing commencement of a
          CEO search.




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                                    SIGNATURE

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereto duly authorized.
                                       SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
                                       (Registrant)

                                       By:    /s/ Cheryl L. Clary
                                       -------------------------------------
                                              Name: Cheryl L. Clary
                                              Title: Chief Financial Officer

Date: November 10, 2005



                                       3

EX-99.1

                                                                     Exhibt 99.1


           Southwest Water Initiates CEO Succession Process


    LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 10, 2005--Southwest Water
Company (NASDAQ:SWWC) has begun a CEO succession process. In
yesterday's third quarter earnings conference call, Chairman of the
Board and CEO Anton C. Garnier, 65, announced that, in accordance with
prudent corporate governance practices, the company has retained an
executive recruiting firm to begin a CEO search that will include both
internal and external candidates.
    Garnier said, "Having been with Southwest Water for more than 38
years, I have seen the company grow from a small family business to a
public company with operations from coast to coast. I turned 65 last
month, and while I have no intention of retiring and I enjoy what I am
doing, now is the time to begin an orderly CEO succession process.
    "We are looking for a person to carry on the company's successful
strategy and performance which have consistently increased revenues,
income and shareholder value. I will continue to serve as CEO and
chairman of the board until a new CEO is in place. At that time, I
will assume the position of full-time chairman and anticipate focusing
my efforts on strategic issues for the long-term success of the
company and our industry."

    Southwest Water Company provides a broad range of operation,
maintenance and management services, including water production,
treatment and distribution; wastewater collection and treatment;
customer service; and utility infrastructure construction management.
The company owns regulated public utilities and also serves cities,
utility districts and private companies under contract. Approximately
two million people from coast to coast depend on Southwest Water for
high-quality, reliable service. Additional information may be found on
the company's Web site: www.swwc.com.


    CONTACT: Southwest Water Company
             Sandy Warren, 213-929-1800
             www.swwc.com
             or
             PondelWilkinson Inc.
             Cecilia Wilkinson or Robert Jaffe, 310-279-5980
             www.pondel.com