Consolidated Statements Of Capitalization (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Aqua America stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $.50 par value	$ 70,161	$ 69,762
Capital in excess of par value	704,328	686,106
Retained earnings	541,739	508,334
Treasury stock, at cost	(14,248)	(13,145)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	187	256
Total Aqua America stockholders' equity	1,302,167	1,251,313
Noncontrolling interest	516	504
Total equity	1,302,683	1,251,817
Long-Term debt
Long-term debt	1,019,615	1,043,204
Notes payable to bank under revolving credit agreement, variable rate, due March 2017	109,000	38,212
Total long-term debt	1,613,747	1,516,548
Less: long-term debt of discontinued operations		40,662
Long-term debt of continuing operations	1,613,747	1,475,886
Current portion of long-term debt	44,258	80,429
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	1,569,489	1,395,457
Total capitalization	2,872,172	2,647,274
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 0.00% To 0.99% [Member]
Long-Term debt
Debt instrument principal outstanding	3,547	6,777
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 1.00% To 1.99% [Member]
Long-Term debt
Debt instrument principal outstanding	29,051	30,030
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 2.00% To 2.99% [Member]
Long-Term debt
Debt instrument principal outstanding	15,535	12,798
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 3.00% To 3.99% [Member]
Long-Term debt
Debt instrument principal outstanding	28,777	26,593
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 4.00% To 4.99% [Member]
Long-Term debt
Debt instrument principal outstanding	368,270	367,226
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 5.00% To 5.99% [Member]
Long-Term debt
Debt instrument principal outstanding	407,036	429,128
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 6.00% To 6.99% [Member]
Long-Term debt
Debt instrument principal outstanding	64,893	63,253
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 7.00% To 7.99% [Member]
Long-Term debt
Debt instrument principal outstanding	36,462	28,995
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 8.00% To 8.99% [Member]
Long-Term debt
Debt instrument principal outstanding	24,797	33,957
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 9.00% To 9.99% [Member]
Long-Term debt
Debt instrument principal outstanding	35,247	38,447
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 10.40% [Member]
Long-Term debt
Debt instrument principal outstanding	6,000	6,000
Notes at 3.57% due 2027 [Member]
Long-Term debt
Unsecured notes payable	50,000
Notes Ranging From 4.62% To 4.87% [Member]
Long-Term debt
Unsecured notes payable	193,000	193,000
Notes Ranging From 5.01% To 5.95% [Member]
Long-Term debt
Unsecured notes payable	$ 242,132	$ 242,132

Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 130

-Paragraph 14, 17, 26

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

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-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

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