Press Release

BRYN MAWR, Pa., Jul 09, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Aqua America, Inc. (NYSE:WTR) today announced that Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Nicholas DeBenedictis received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) 2007 Award in the Master category for the Greater Philadelphia region. The Ernst & Young award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses.

Selected for the award by an independent panel of judges, DeBenedictis was recently honored during ceremonies at The Loews Hotel in Philadelphia. DeBenedictis became a regional finalist for the award from a total of 75 semifinalist nominations, after the judges screened hundreds of entries.

"I am honored to receive such a prestigious award, especially the opportunity to represent both Aqua America and the Greater Philadelphia region at the national competition," said DeBenedictis.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program celebrates its 21st anniversary this year. The award honors entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

"Ernst & Young is honored to recognize extraordinary business leaders, such as Nick DeBenedictis, and the companies they have built," said Donna Palmer, director of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year program for Greater Philadelphia.

As a Greater Philadelphia award winner, DeBenedictis is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2007 national program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 17, 2007. The national Entrepreneur Of The Year celebration is part of Ernst & Young's Strategic Growth Forum.

Under DeBenedictis' leadership, Aqua America (formerly Philadelphia Suburban Corporation) has grown to provide water and wastewater services to approximately 2.8 million people in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and 11 other states. Today, Aqua America is the largest U.S.-based publicly traded water and wastewater company in the country. DeBenedictis was elected chairman of the company in May 1993, 10 months after joining the business as its president and chief executive officer and chairman of its principal subsidiary, Aqua Pennsylvania (formerly Philadelphia Suburban Water Company).

In addition to leading Aqua America, DeBenedictis is chairman of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau's Board of Directors. He also chaired Philadelphia Mayor John Street's 21st Century Review Forum Regional Cooperation Committee. DeBenedictis served as president of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce between 1986 and 1989. DeBenedictis served in two cabinet positions in Pennsylvania government: Secretary of the Department of Environmental Resources (1983-1986) and Director of the Office of Economic Development (1981-1983). Before joining the cabinet, he spent eight years (1973-1981) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, first as the Assistant Regional Administrator for Region 3, based in Philadelphia, before being transferred to serve in Washington, D.C. He is a former chairman and now member of the executive committee for both the Pennsylvania Business Roundtable and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Aqua America, Inc. is a publicly traded water and wastewater utility holding company, with operating subsidiaries serving approximately 2.8 million people in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, Maine, Missouri, and South Carolina. Aqua America is listed on both the New York and Philadelphia Stock Exchanges under the ticker symbol WTR.

WTRG

SOURCE: Aqua America, Inc.

Aqua America, Inc.
Terry Maenza, Senior Communications Specialist
610-645-1175
tmmaenza@aquaamerica.com

Copyright Business Wire 2007

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