Abstract: The water filter and water filter assembly for swimming pool cleaning machines of this invention has a hollow outer housing with a top, bottom, and sidewalls. An electrical pump motor is mounted within the outer housing and has an upper end. An output shaft on the pump motor extends upwardly therefrom and has an impeller mounted thereon which is positioned adjacent to and inwardly from a water discharge port in the top of the outer housing. The pump is positioned in spaced relationship with respect to the outer housing. An opening is located in the bottom of the outer housing to receive a water filter assembly. The filter assembly includes a filter housing which includes space U-shaped ends having top and bottom edges with an open U-shaped opening extending from the top edge and extending downwardly in the U-shaped ends towards the bottom edge thereof.