EXHIBIT 99

                             COMPANY PRESS RELEASE

WEST COVINA, Calif., April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- At its meeting on April 6, 1998,
the Board of Directors of Southwest Water Company (Nasdaq: SWWC-news) adopted a
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shareholder rights plan.  The purpose of the Rights Plan is to encourage anyone
seeking to acquire the company to negotiate with the Board prior to attempting a
takeover.

The Rights Plan is not being adopted in response to any specific takeover
proposal.  Rather, the Board determined to adopt the Rights Plan now to protect
shareholder interests in the future.  The Rights Plan is not intended to prevent
a takeover, nor to prevent substantial investment in the Company on terms that
are fair to all shareholders.  Instead, it is designed to guard against partial
tender offers, open market accumulations and other abusive tactics that might
result in an acquirer gaining control of the Company without paying all
shareholders a control premium.

In connection with the adoption of the Rights Plan, the Board declared a
dividend distribution of one Preferred Share Purchase Right for each outstanding
share of Southwest Water common stock.  The Rights will be distributed to
shareholders of record on April 27, 1998.  When and if they were to become
exercisable, each Right would entitle the holder to purchase from the Company
one one-hundredth (1/100) of a share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred
stock, par value of $.01, at an exercise price of $65.  Generally, each one one-
hundredth share of this Preferred stock will have the same economic and voting
rights as one share of common stock.

Initially, no separate Rights certificate will be issued as the Rights are
attached to and trade with the common stock as a single unit.  Subject to
limited exceptions, the Rights will separate from the common stock and become
exercisable if a person or group acquires (an Acquiring Person) 15 percent or
more of the Company's common stock or if a potential Acquiring Person were to
announce a tender offer for 15 percent or more of the common stock.

When there is an Acquiring Person, each Right will entitle its holder to
purchase, at the Right's then-current exercise price, a number of common shares
having a market value at that time of twice the Right's exercise price.  Rights
held by an Acquiring Person will become void and cannot be used to purchase
shares at the bargain purchase price.

Prior to exercise (which cannot occur until there is an Acquiring Person), the
Right by itself has no voting or other shareholder rights.  The Rights have a
ten-year life, expiring on April 6, 2008.  The Board may redeem the Rights at a
price of $.01 per right at any time before there is an Acquiring Person.

At this time, there is no need for shareholders to make any decisions or take
any action regarding the Rights, nor exchange their common share certificates.
The Rights are not currently exercisable and will not be unless there is an
Acquiring Person.

 
The Southwest Water Board of Directors adopted the shareholder Rights Plan to
ensure that all shareholders can realize the long-term value of their investment
in the Company.  Specific information regarding the Rights Plan will be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Southwest Water Company operates and manages water supply and wastewater
treatment systems, some of which are owned by the company and are regulated
public utilities.  The remainder, owned by cities, utility districts and private
companies, are operated and managed by Southwest Water under contract.  More
than 40 communities depend on the company for high-quality water and wastewater
services.