-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MXF9seCo4geyUUf1eZ7SzYx3piqi3ud+WiuPuYRknJAZj/Tz3HK6ddzITY+El3ON
 HQr7rJBf+idLs92fzoUUNA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-007485.txt : 20030513
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-007485.hdr.sgml : 20030513
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030513123905
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-007485
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030513
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030513

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FARNHAM SHELLEY A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001231580
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WATER SUPPLY [4941]

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08176
		FILM NUMBER:		03694663

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

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd8783.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>3</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-05-13</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000092472</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHWEST WATER CO</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>SWWC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
<rptOwnerCik>0001231580</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FARNHAM SHELLEY A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>VP Human Resources</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>871</value></transactionShares></transactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Shelley A. Farnham</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-05-13</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----