8-K

UNITED STATESSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONWASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

FORM 8-KCURRENT REPORTPURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THESECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): October 23, 2009

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 October 23, 2009 a news release was issued announcing quarterly cash dividends.

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	News Release issued October 23, 2009

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/ William K. Dix
			Name: William K. Dix
			Title: Vice President, General
			Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Date:	October 23, 2009

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

SouthWest Water Company Doubles Cash Dividend on Common Stock

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--October 23, 2009--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 $0.05 per share from $0.025 per share, representing a 100% increase.

Mark Swatek, SouthWest Water chief executive officer, said, "Today’s action reflects our board’s confidence in the underlying performance of the company and our long-term business outlook.”

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 November 20, 2009, to stockholders of record on November 4, 2009.

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 a million people in 9 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 Corporate Communications
213-929-1846
www.swwc.com