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): March 9, 2006

                             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 8.01 Other Events


On March 9, 2006 the Company issued a press release announcing a quarterly
common stock cash dividend of $0.0524 per share. The Company's Board of
Directors also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.65625 per share of
Series A preferred stock. The cash dividends will be paid on April 20, 2006, to
stockholders of record on March 30, 2006.


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 March 9, 2006, announcing
            quarterly cash dividend.


                                       2







                                    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: March 9, 2006


                                       3

Exhibit No. Description
----------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
99.1        Press release dated March 9, 2006, announcing
            quarterly cash dividend.

                                       4