| **Document And Entity Information - shares** | 3 Months Ended                |             |
|----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------|
||
| Document Type                                | 10-Q                          |        |
| Document Quarterly Report                    | true                          |        |
| Document Period End Date                     | Mar. 31,  2020                |        |
| Document Fiscal Year Focus                   | 2020                          |        |
| Current Fiscal Year End Date                 | --12-31                       |        |
| Document Transition Report                   | false                         |        |
| Entity File Number                           | 1-6659                        |        |
| Entity Registrant Name                       | ESSENTIAL UTILITIES, INC.     |        |
| Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code  | PA                            |        |
| Entity Tax Identification Number             | 23-1702594                    |        |
| Entity Address, Address Line One             | 762 W. Lancaster Avenue       |        |
| Entity Address, City or Town                 | Bryn Mawr                     |        |
| Entity Address, State or Province            | PA                            |        |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code              | 19010 -3489                   |        |
| City Area Code                               | 610                           |        |
| Local Phone Number                           | 527-8000                      |        |
| Entity Current Reporting Status              | Yes                           |        |
| Entity Interactive Data Current              | Yes                           |        |
| Entity Filer Category                        | Large Accelerated Filer       |        |
| Entity Small Business                        | false                         |        |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company               | false                         |        |
| Entity Shell Company                         | false                         |        |
| Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding      |                          | 245,041,284 |
| Amendment Flag                               | false                         |        |
| Document Fiscal Period Focus                 | Q1                            |        |
| Entity Central Index Key                     | 0000078128                    |        |
| Common Class A [Member]                      |                          |        |
| Title of 12(b) Security                      | Common stock, $0.50 par value |        |
| Trading Symbol                               | WTRG                          |        |
| Security Exchange Name                       | NYSE                          |        |
| Tangible Equity Units [Member]               |                          |        |
| Title of 12(b) Security                      | 6.00% Tangible Equity Units   |        |
| Trading Symbol                               | WTRU                          |        |
| Security Exchange Name                       | NYSE                          |        |

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Boolean flag that is true when the XBRL content amends previously-filed or accepted submission.
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Area code of city
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End date of current fiscal year in the format --MM-DD.
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Fiscal period values are FY, Q1, Q2, and Q3.  1st, 2nd and 3rd quarter 10-Q or 10-QT statements have value Q1, Q2, and Q3 respectively, with 10-K, 10-KT or other fiscal year statements having FY.
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| - Definition
This is focus fiscal year of the document report in CCYY format. For a 2006 annual report, which may also provide financial information from prior periods, fiscal 2006 should be given as the fiscal year focus. Example: 2006.
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| - Definition
The end date of the period reflected on the cover page if a periodic report. For all other reports and registration statements containing historical data, it is the date up through which that historical data is presented.  If there is no historical data in the report, use the filing date. The format of the date is CCYY-MM-DD.
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| - Definition
Boolean flag that is true only for a form used as an quarterly report.
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Boolean flag that is true only for a form used as a transition report.
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| - Definition
The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, 485BPOS, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, or the word 'Other'.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
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| - Definition
Address Line 1 such as Attn, Building Name, Street Name
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| - Definition
Name of the City or Town
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| - Definition
Code for the postal or zip code
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| - Definition
Name of the state or province.
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| - Definition
A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.
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| - Definition
Indicate number of shares or other units outstanding of each of registrant's classes of capital or common stock or other ownership interests, if and as stated on cover of related periodic report. Where multiple classes or units exist define each class/interest by adding class of stock items such as Common Class A [Member], Common Class B [Member] or Partnership Interest [Member] onto the Instrument [Domain] of the Entity Listings, Instrument.
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| - Definition
Indicate 'Yes' or 'No' whether registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. This information should be based on the registrant's current or most recent filing containing the related disclosure.
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| - Definition
Indicate if registrant meets the emerging growth company criteria.
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| - Definition
Commission file number. The field allows up to 17 characters. The prefix may contain 1-3 digits, the sequence number may contain 1-8 digits, the optional suffix may contain 1-4 characters, and the fields are separated with a hyphen.
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| - Definition
Indicate whether the registrant is one of the following: Large Accelerated Filer, Accelerated Filer, Non-accelerated Filer. Definitions of these categories are stated in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. This information should be based on the registrant's current or most recent filing containing the related disclosure.
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| - Definition
Two-character EDGAR code representing the state or country of incorporation.
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| - Definition
Boolean flag that is true when the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
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| - Definition
The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.
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| - Definition
Boolean flag that is true when the registrant is a shell company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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| - Definition
Indicates that the company is a Smaller Reporting Company (SRC).
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| - Definition
The Tax Identification Number (TIN), also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN), is a unique 9-digit value assigned by the IRS.
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| - Definition
Local phone number for entity.
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| - Definition
Title of a 12(b) registered security.
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Name of the Exchange on which a security is registered.
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| - Definition
Trading symbol of an instrument as listed on an exchange.
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