EXHIBIT 99.1

         William D. Jones Appointed to Southwest Water Board

    LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2004--Southwest Water
Company (Nasdaq:SWWC) today announced that its board of directors, by
unanimous consent, appointed William D. Jones to serve as a director.
The board now consists of nine members, of whom seven are independent
directors.
    Jones, 49, is president, chief executive officer and owner of
CityLink Investment Corporation, a real estate investment, development
and management firm. He serves as chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank
of San Francisco-Los Angeles branch, and he is a director of Sempra
Energy, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation and
the San Diego Padres. Jones also serves as a trustee of the University
of San Diego and is a member of the Board of Overseers for the
University of California at San Diego. Prior to founding CityLink
Investment Corporation, Jones served as general manager of a $400
million commercial real estate portfolio in the northwest for
Prudential Realty Group.
    In addition to his business experience, Jones' career also
includes 15 years of service in municipal government, most recently as
deputy mayor of San Diego in 1986. Prior to that, he served as a
councilman for the city's fourth district and as an aide to city
councilman Leon Williams.
    Anton C. Garnier, Southwest Water chairman and CEO, said, "We are
very pleased to welcome William Jones to our board. His background in
the municipal political environment and in real estate development
will be of help to Southwest Water Company as we work toward achieving
our long-term strategic goals."
    Commenting on his appointment, Jones said, "I look forward to
working with an outstanding board, management team and stakeholders to
enhance the stability and growth of Southwest Water Company."
    Among his professional honors, Jones received the International
Economic Development Council's 2002 Citizen Leadership Award, San
Diego Dialogue's 2000 Celebration of Civic Excellence Award, the
Partners for Livable Communities National 1999 Bridge Builders Award,
and the Developer of the 20th Century Award, presented in 1999 by the
Black Contractors Association of San Diego. He also gained national
acclaim as the master developer of San Diego's City Heights Urban
Village, an award-winning redevelopment project.
    Jones earned a master's degree in business administration from
Harvard Business School and a bachelor of arts degree in economics
from the University of San Diego. He is married to Cheryl
Sueing-Jones, a deputy district attorney for the County of San Diego.

    Southwest Water Company provides a broad range of services: water
production, treatment and distribution; wastewater collection and
treatment; public works services; utility billing and collection; and
utility infrastructure construction management. The company owns
regulated public utilities and also serves cities, utility districts
and private companies under contract. More than two million people in
35 states from coast to coast depend on Southwest Water for
high-quality, reliable service. Additional information may be found on
the company's Web site: www.swwc.com.

MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE:
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    CONTACT: Southwest Water Company
             Mr. Sandy Warren, 213-929-1800
             www.swwc.com
             or
             PondelWilkinson Inc.
             Cecilia Wilkinson or Robert Jaffe
             310-279-5970 or 310-279-5969
             www.pondel.com