8-K

UNITED STATESSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONWASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-KCURRENT REPORTPURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 11, 2008

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 14a-12 under the Exchange 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 December 11, 2008 a news release was issued announcing quarterly cash dividends of $0.025 per share of common stock and $0.65625 per share of Series A preferred stock. The dividends are payable on January 22, 2009 to stockholders of record as of January 7, 2009.

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	On December 11, 2008 a news release was issued announcing quarterly cash dividends

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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 thereunto duly authorized.

		SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
		(Registrant)
		By:	/s/ Cheryl L. Clary
			Name:	Cheryl L. Clary
			Title:	Chief Financial Officer
Date:	December 11, 2008

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

SouthWest Water Company Declares Cash Dividends

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--December 11, 2008--SouthWest Water Company (Nasdaq:SWWC) today announced that its board of directors declared quarterly cash dividends of $0.025 per share of common stock and $0.65625 per share of Series A preferred stock. The dividends are payable on January 22, 2009 to stockholders of record as of January 7, 2009.

“Each quarter since 1960, SouthWest Water’s board has reviewed our dividend policy in light of current business, economic and market conditions,” said Mark Swatek, SouthWest Water chairman and chief executive officer. “The decision to reduce this quarter’s dividend reflects the board’s desire to be prudent and preserve company resources during these challenging times.”

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.

For Further Information:

SouthWest Water Company
624 S. Grand Ave., Suite 2900
Los Angeles, CA 90017
www.swwc.com

CONTACT:
SouthWest Water Company
DeLise Keim, VP Corporate Communications, 213-929-1846