Businessweek

Aqua America, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides water or wastewater services. The company provides its services to approximately three million people in Pennsylvania, Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Florida, Indiana, Virginia, Maine, and Georgia. The company’s subsidiary, Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc., is located in the suburban areas in counties north and west of the City of Philadelphia and in 25 other counties in Pennsylvania. Its other subsidiaries provide similar services in 11 other states. In addition, the company provides water and wastewater services through operating and maintenance contracts with municipal authorities and other parties in the states, as well as sludge hauling, septage and grease services, backflow prevention services, and certain other non-regulated water and wastewater services. Water Supplies, Water Facilities and Wastewater Facilities The company’s water utility operations obtain their water supplies from surface water sources, underground aquifers, and water purchased from other water suppliers. Its water supplies are primarily self supplied and processed at 21 surface water treatment plants located in 5 states, and well stations. Regulations The company is primarily subject to economic regulation by the following state regulatory commissions: Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, North Carolina Utilities Commission, Illinois Commerce Commission, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, New York Public Service Commission, Florida Public Service Commission, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, Virginia State Corporation Commission, and Maine Public Utilities Commission. The company is a party to agreements with regulatory agencies in Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, Indiana, and Virginia under which it has committed to make certain improvements for environmental compliance. The company’s subsidiaries own 15 major dams that are subject to the requirements of the federal and state regulations related to dam safety. History Aqua America, Inc. was founded in 1968. The company was formerly known as Philadelphia Suburban Corporation and changed its name to Aqua America, Inc. in 2004.