Consolidated Statements Of Capitalization (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Aqua America stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $.50 par value	$ 89,231	$ 88,964
Capital in excess of par value	753,814	743,335
Retained earnings	812,412	729,272
Treasury stock, at cost	(41,055)	(27,082)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	731	346
Total Aqua America stockholders' equity	1,615,133	1,534,835
Noncontrolling interest	227	208
Total equity	1,615,360	1,535,043
Long-term debt:
Long-term debt	1,066,058	1,101,339
Notes payable to bank under revolving credit agreement, variable rate, due March 2017	109,000
Total long-term debt	1,647,006	1,554,871
Current portion of long-term debt	86,580	86,288
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	1,560,426	1,468,583
Total capitalization	3,175,786	3,003,626
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 0.00% To 0.99% [Member]
Long-term debt:
Debt instrument principal outstanding	5,653	5,035
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 1.00% To 1.99% [Member]
Long-term debt:
Debt instrument principal outstanding	14,681	28,615
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 2.00% To 2.99% [Member]
Long-term debt:
Debt instrument principal outstanding	24,653	14,903
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 3.00% To 3.99% [Member]
Long-term debt:
Debt instrument principal outstanding	168,206	167,365
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 4.00% To 4.99% [Member]
Long-term debt:
Debt instrument principal outstanding	444,332	447,296
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 5.00% To 5.99% [Member]
Long-term debt:
Debt instrument principal outstanding	256,205	284,362
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 6.00% To 6.99% [Member]
Long-term debt:
Debt instrument principal outstanding	64,939	64,924
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 7.00% To 7.99% [Member]
Long-term debt:
Debt instrument principal outstanding	34,583	35,056
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 8.00% To 8.99% [Member]
Long-term debt:
Debt instrument principal outstanding	19,006	19,283
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 9.00% To 9.99% [Member]
Long-term debt:
Debt instrument principal outstanding	27,800	28,500
Long-Term Debt Of Subsidiaries 10.00% To 10.99% [Member]
Long-term debt:
Debt instrument principal outstanding	6,000	6,000
Bank Note at 1.921% due September 2017 [Member]
Long-term debt:
Unsecured notes payable	50,000
Notes at 3.57% due 2027 [Member]
Long-term debt:
Unsecured notes payable	50,000	50,000
Notes Ranging From 4.62% To 4.87% [Member]
Long-term debt:
Unsecured notes payable	144,400	171,400
Notes Ranging From 5.01% To 5.95% [Member]
Long-term debt:
Unsecured notes payable	$ 227,548	$ 232,132