Exhibit 99.1


   Southwest Water Company Increases Cash Dividend on Common Stock


    LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 14, 2007--Southwest Water
Company (Nasdaq:SWWC) today announced that its board of directors has
raised the company's quarterly cash dividend on its common stock to
$0.06 per share from $0.0576 per share, representing the twelfth
consecutive annual increase.

    The board also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.65625 per
share on the company's Series A preferred stock. Both dividends will
be paid January 18, 2008, to stockholders of record on December 28,
2007.

    Southwest Water Company provides a broad range of operations,
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. More than two
million people in 10 states 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
             DeLise Keim, VP Corp. Communications, 213-929-1846
             www.swwc.com
             or
             PondelWilkinson Inc.
             Robert Jaffe, 310-279-5980
             www.pondel.com