Press Release

BRYN MAWR, Pa., Apr 15, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Headline of release should read: Aqua Pennsylvania to Receive Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence (sted Aqua Pennsylvania Subsidiary to Receive Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence).

The corrected release reads:

AQUA PENNSYLVANIA TO RECEIVE GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE

Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. (Aqua) is among a select group of companies chosen by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) to receive the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence at a ceremony to be held April 20 at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel. Aqua was selected to receive the prestigious award for its recent construction of a 1.1 megawatt photovoltaic solar farm at its Ingram's Mill Water Treatment Plant in East Bradford Township, which serves drinking water to the West Chester, Pennsylvania area.

The Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence are presented each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to highlight the best in environmental innovation and expertise throughout the Commonwealth. The awards are the highest statewide honor bestowed upon businesses and organizations for environmental performance and innovation from cleaning up watersheds, saving energy, and eliminating pollution, to reducing waste and more.

Aqua's Ingram's Mill renewable energy project uses high-efficiency panels to convert sunlight into useful power, thereby reducing the region's power generation requirements. The $6 million project was partially funded with a $1 million grant through the federal stimulus program which is administered through the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA). The 4.5-acre solar farm is the second largest solar installation on the East Coast. Among the benefits of the new facility are that it:

• offsets the need for 3,000 barrels of oil each year; or
• avoids the equivalent of 2.6 million car miles each year; or
• reduces CO₂ emissions by 1.4 million pounds each year.

"We are extremely honored to be selected by the state to receive this award," said Aqua's Chairman Nicholas DeBenedictis. "We are very proud to employ cutting edge green energy technology to support our ability to provide one of the world's most valuable and sustainable resources--drinking water," said Aqua Chairman Nicholas DeBenedictis. "Our 125-year-old company was created out of concern for the environment and public health so it makes perfect sense to have a sustainable clean energy source to power our water treatment plant."

"The Pennsylvania Environmental Council is honored to create a gala event around the 2010 Governor's Awards," said PEC President and CEO Don Welsh. "It is our hope that by showcasing the outstanding efforts of organizations, businesses and individuals throughout the Commonwealth, that we can inspire new generations of environmental stewards."

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger will serve as the keynote speaker for the event and WITF, Inc. President and CEO Kathleen Pavelko will be the program emcee.

Aqua Pennsylvania provides water and wastewater services to approximately 1.4 million residents across the state, including nearly 1.3 million residents in southeastern Pennsylvania. It is a subsidiary of Aqua America, Inc., one of the largest U.S.-based publicly traded water and wastewater utility holding companies, serving approximately 3 million residents in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, Maine, Missouri, South Carolina and Georgia. Aqua America is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol WTR.

WTRG

SOURCE: Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc.

Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc.
Donna Alston
Director, Communications
610-645-1095
dpalston@aquaamerica.com

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