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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Q8DARMl2mTPWxKXmSVklMDgbPpOg68h5ltckiIqtGTlJbXPCYo5Y8xB8WDF99YvE
 MdGaKpsMSg1uXhsZkoi4DA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-007371.txt : 20030512
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-007371.hdr.sgml : 20030512
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030512120620
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-007371
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030512
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030512

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOUTHWEST WATER CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000092472
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WATER SUPPLY [4941]
		IRS NUMBER:				951840947
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 N BARRANCA AVE
		STREET 2:		STE 200
		CITY:			WEST COVINA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91791-1605
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6269151551

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 N BARRANCA AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			WEST COVINA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91791-1605

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SUBURBAN WATER SYSTEMS
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19751202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHRISTIE H FREDERICK
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001032116

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08176
		FILM NUMBER:		03691986

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		655 DEEP VALLEY DRIVE SUITE 125
		CITY:			ROLLING HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90274
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2105924335

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		655 DEEP VALLEY DRIVE SUITE 125
		CITY:			ROLLING HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90274
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd8682.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="http://www.RRDnetfiler.com/XSL/SEC_Form_4.xsl"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-05-12</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000092472</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHWEST WATER CO</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>SWWC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
<rptOwnerCik>0001032116</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHRISTIE H FREDERICK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>12.12</value></conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-05-08</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>5000</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>12.12</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2004-05-08</value></exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2010-05-09</value></expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>H. Frederick Christie</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-05-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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