| **Rate Activity**            | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
||
| **Rate Activity [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Rate Activity                | Note 12 – Rate Activity 
During the first three months of 2020, the Company’s water and wastewater utility operating divisions in Indiana and Ohio were granted base rate increases designed to increase total operating revenues on an annual basis by $1,006.  Further, during the first three months of 2020, the Company’s water and wastewater utility operating divisions in Illinois and North Carolina received approval to bill infrastructure rehabilitation surcharges designed to increase total operating revenues on an annual basis by $3,775.  

In August 2018, Aqua Pennsylvania filed for a base rate increase in water and wastewater rates for its customers.  In May 2019 the Company received an order from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission resulting in an increase of $47,000 in annual revenue, and new rates went into effect on May 24, 2019.  The rates in effect at the time of the filing also included $29,493 in Distribution System Improvement Charges (“DSIC”), which was 7.5% above prior base rates.  Consequently, the aggregate base rates increased by $76,493 since the last base rate increase and the DSIC was reset to zero. |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The entire disclosure for public utilities.
+ References
Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 980 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2156578
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesDisclosureTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Water and Wastewater Rates
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**wtrg_WaterAndWastewaterRatesAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**wtrg_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |