| **Long-Term Debt And Loans Payable (Schedule Of Long-Term Debt Future Sinking Fund Payments And Debt Maturities) (Details) $ in Thousands** | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| 2020                                                                                                                                        | $ 105,051             |
| 2021                                                                                                                                        | 58,252                |
| 2022                                                                                                                                        | 29,980                |
| 2023                                                                                                                                        | 17,072                |
| 2024                                                                                                                                        | 15,968                |
| Thereafter                                                                                                                                  | 2,851,077             |
| Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 0.00% To 0.99% [Member]                                                                                  |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| 2020                                                                                                                                        | 670                   |
| 2021                                                                                                                                        | 460                   |
| 2022                                                                                                                                        | 461                   |
| 2023                                                                                                                                        | 461                   |
| 2024                                                                                                                                        | 252                   |
| Thereafter                                                                                                                                  | 1,170                 |
| Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 1.00% To 1.99% [Member]                                                                                  |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| 2020                                                                                                                                        | 1,016                 |
| 2021                                                                                                                                        | 978                   |
| 2022                                                                                                                                        | 957                   |
| 2023                                                                                                                                        | 835                   |
| 2024                                                                                                                                        | 764                   |
| Thereafter                                                                                                                                  | 6,183                 |
| Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 2.00% To 2.99% [Member]                                                                                  |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| 2020                                                                                                                                        | 1,863                 |
| 2021                                                                                                                                        | 1,913                 |
| 2022                                                                                                                                        | 1,964                 |
| 2023                                                                                                                                        | 2,017                 |
| 2024                                                                                                                                        | 1,619                 |
| Thereafter                                                                                                                                  | 6,298                 |
| Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 3.00% To 3.99% [Member]                                                                                  |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| 2020                                                                                                                                        | 91,524                |
| 2021                                                                                                                                        | 41,287                |
| 2022                                                                                                                                        | 24,622                |
| 2023                                                                                                                                        | 2,065                 |
| 2024                                                                                                                                        | 1,767                 |
| Thereafter                                                                                                                                  | 1,133,776             |
| Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 4.00% To 4.99% [Member]                                                                                  |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| 2020                                                                                                                                        | 292                   |
| 2021                                                                                                                                        | 168                   |
| 2022                                                                                                                                        | 94                    |
| 2023                                                                                                                                        | 99                    |
| 2024                                                                                                                                        | 103                   |
| Thereafter                                                                                                                                  | 1,554,035             |
| Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 5.00% To 5.99% [Member]                                                                                  |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| 2020                                                                                                                                        | 6,191                 |
| 2021                                                                                                                                        | 6,215                 |
| 2022                                                                                                                                        | 787                   |
| 2023                                                                                                                                        | 10,811                |
| 2024                                                                                                                                        | 10,611                |
| Thereafter                                                                                                                                  | 76,995                |
| Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 6.00% To 6.99% [Member]                                                                                  |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Thereafter                                                                                                                                  | 31,000                |
| Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 7.00% To 7.99% [Member]                                                                                  |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| 2020                                                                                                                                        | 574                   |
| 2021                                                                                                                                        | 666                   |
| 2022                                                                                                                                        | 374                   |
| Thereafter                                                                                                                                  | 29,137                |
| Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 8.00% To 8.99% [Member]                                                                                  |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| 2020                                                                                                                                        | 521                   |
| 2021                                                                                                                                        | 1,665                 |
| 2022                                                                                                                                        | 721                   |
| 2023                                                                                                                                        | 784                   |
| 2024                                                                                                                                        | 852                   |
| Thereafter                                                                                                                                  | 483                   |
| Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 9.00% To 9.99% [Member]                                                                                  |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| 2020                                                                                                                                        | 2,400                 |
| 2021                                                                                                                                        | 4,900                 |
| Thereafter                                                                                                                                  | $ 12,000              |
| Minimum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 0.00% To 0.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 0.00%                 |
| Minimum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 1.00% To 1.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 1.00%                 |
| Minimum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 2.00% To 2.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 2.00%                 |
| Minimum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 3.00% To 3.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 3.00%                 |
| Minimum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 4.00% To 4.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 4.00%                 |
| Minimum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 5.00% To 5.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 5.00%                 |
| Minimum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 6.00% To 6.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 6.00%                 |
| Minimum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 7.00% To 7.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 7.00%                 |
| Minimum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 8.00% To 8.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 8.00%                 |
| Minimum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 9.00% To 9.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 9.00%                 |
| Maximum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 0.00% To 0.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 0.99%                 |
| Maximum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 1.00% To 1.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 1.99%                 |
| Maximum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 2.00% To 2.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 2.99%                 |
| Maximum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 3.00% To 3.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 3.99%                 |
| Maximum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 4.00% To 4.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 4.99%                 |
| Maximum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 5.00% To 5.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 5.99%                 |
| Maximum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 6.00% To 6.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 6.99%                 |
| Maximum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 7.00% To 7.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 7.99%                 |
| Maximum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 8.00% To 8.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 8.99%                 |
| Maximum [Member] | Long-Term Debt Interest Rate Range 9.00% To 9.99% [Member]                                                               |                  |
| **Debt Instrument [Line Items]**                                                                                                            |                  |
| Interest Rate Range                                                                                                                         | 9.99%                 |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.
+ References
Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**num:percentItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.
+ References
Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-04.(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24072-122690Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6802200&loc=d3e1835-112601
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.
+ References
Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-04.(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24072-122690Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6802200&loc=d3e1835-112601
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.
+ References
Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-04.(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24072-122690Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6802200&loc=d3e1835-112601
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.
+ References
Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-04.(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24072-122690Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6802200&loc=d3e1835-112601
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.
+ References
Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-04.(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24072-122690Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6802200&loc=d3e1835-112601
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.
+ References
Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-04.(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24072-122690Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6802200&loc=d3e1835-112601
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wtrg_LongTermDebtInterestRateRangeZeroPointZeroZeroPercentageToZeroPointNineNinePercentageMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wtrg_LongTermDebtInterestRateRangeOnePointZeroZeroPercentageToOnePointNineNinePercentageMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wtrg_LongTermDebtInterestRateRangeTwoPointZeroZeroPercentageToTwoPointNineNinePercentageMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wtrg_LongTermDebtInterestRateRangeThreePointZeroZeroPercentageToThreePointNineNinePercentageMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wtrg_LongTermDebtInterestRateRangeFourPointZeroZeroPercentageToFourPointNineNinePercentageMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wtrg_LongTermDebtInterestRateRangeFivePointZeroZeroPercentageToFivePointNineNinePercentageMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wtrg_LongTermDebtInterestRateRangeSixPointZeroZeroPercentageToSixPointNineNinePercentageMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wtrg_LongTermDebtInterestRateRangeSevenPointZeroZeroPercentageToSevenPointNineNinePercentageMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wtrg_LongTermDebtInterestRateRangeEightPointZeroZeroPercentageToEightPointNineNinePercentageMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wtrg_LongTermDebtInterestRateRangeNinePointZeroZeroPercentageToNinePointNineNinePercentageMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                       |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |
| X                                                                                                                       |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember**Namespace Prefix:****Data Type:**na**Balance Type:****Period Type:** |