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 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): January 25, 2010

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 or former address, 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 5.02     Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensation Arrangements of Certain Officers

(b), (c) and (e)

On January 26, 2010, SouthWest Water Company appointed Ben Smith to the position of Chief Financial Officer on an interim basis and designated him the Company’s principal financial officer.  Mr. Smith, age 39, joined the Company in May 2006 and has been serving as its Vice President of Financial Services since January 2008 and as its principal accounting officer since May 2009.  Mr. Smith’s biographical information is included in Part III, Item 10 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 and is incorporated herein by reference.  

In connection with Mr. Smith’s interim appointment to the position of Chief Financial Officer, the Company increased his annual base salary to $280,000 per year, effective as of January 26, 2010.  In addition, Mr. Smith will be eligible to receive a cash incentive award of up to $80,000 based upon his achievement of performance targets related to tasks associated with the transition of his responsibilities.

On January 25, 2009, David B. Stanton’s employment with the Company was terminated.  He had served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and before that as the Chief Operating Officer.

Item 8.01     Other Events

On January 27, 2010, the Company issued a news release announcing the management changes.

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	January 27, 2010 News Release

SIGNATURES

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 hereunto duly authorized.

		SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
		(Registrant)
		By:	/s/ William K. Dix
			Name:	William K. Dix
			Title:	Vice President, General
				Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Date:	January 27, 2010

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

SouthWest Water Names Ben Smith Interim Chief Financial Officer

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--January 27, 2010--SouthWest Water Company (NASDAQ: SWWC) today named Ben Smith interim chief financial officer, succeeding David B. Stanton, who is no longer with the company.

Smith, 39, has been serving as SouthWest Water’s principal accounting officer since May 2009. A Certified Public Accountant, he joined the company as divisional chief financial officer of its contract services group in 2006 and was promoted to the corporate level as vice president of financial services in January 2008.

“Ben brings to his new role excellent operational accounting experience and more than a decade of financial management leadership,” said Mark A. Swatek, SouthWest Water’s chief executive officer and president. “He was instrumental in successfully guiding the company through its recent financial review. His deep knowledge of the company will help ensure a smooth transition.”

Prior to joining SouthWest Water, Smith served as a manager at Calpine Power America, where he was responsible for retail and customer service operations, assisting the marketing team with strategy and analyzing accounting systems. Previously, he held executive management positions with Commerce Restructuring, LLC, and Veras Investment Partners. Smith earned a bachelor of business administration degree with a major in accounting from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.

About SouthWest Water

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 nine states depend on SouthWest Water for high-quality, reliable service. Additional information may be found on the company’s website: www.swwc.com.

CONTACT:
SouthWest Water Company
DeLise Keim
VP Corporate Communications
213.929.1846
www.swwc.com