Five-Year, $3.2 Million Contract in Lamont, CA Secured by Southwest Water Company

WEST COVINA, Calif. (BUSINESS WIRE) - Southwest Water Company  announced February 16, 2000, that ECO Resources Inc., its contract operations subsidiary, has been awarded a five-year, $3.2 million contract to operate and maintain the water and wastewater utility systems for the Lamont Public Utilities District.

The District serves 11,000 people and is located approximately 10 miles south of Bakersfield, Calif.

ECO Resources Inc. assumed operation of the District's facilities on Feb. 1, 2000. The contract includes water production, water distribution, sewage collection, sewage treatment, and customer billing and collection services.

Southwest Water President Anton C. Garnier said, "We are very pleased to be serving the customers of the Lamont Public Utilities District. We believe the contract will benefit the district and extend our presence in Kern County."

Southwest Water Company operates and manages water supply and wastewater treatment systems. Some of the systems are owned by the company and are regulated public utilities, while the remainder, owned by cities, utility districts and private companies, are operated and managed under contract. More than three-quarters of a million people depend on the company for high-quality water and wastewater services.

Contact: Southwest Water Company, West Covina Peter J. Moerbeek, 626/915-1551 www.southwestwater.com