UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 11-K

               [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (d) OF THE
                   SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]
                   For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004


                                       OR


             [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
                 SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]
                       For the transition period from _________ to

                          Commission file number 1-6659
                                                 ------


                           A. Full title of the Plan:

                               AQUA AMERICA, INC.
                                EMPLOYEES 401(k)
                             SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

          B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the Plan
               and the address of its principal executive office:

                               AQUA AMERICA, INC.
                             762 W. LANCASTER AVENUE
                               BRYN MAWR, PA 19010





                               AQUA AMERICA, INC.
                     EMPLOYEES 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST


The following audited financial statements are included with this report:



Exhibit                                                       Page
- --------                                                      ----
23.1      Consent of Beard Miller Company LLP                   4
99.1      Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedules       5
          as of December 31, 2004 and 2003





                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Aqua
America, Inc. has duly caused this annual report to be signed by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.

                               AQUA AMERICA, INC.
                     EMPLOYEES 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST


  Plan Sponsor:                                               Date

/s/ Roy H. Stahl                                             6/27/05
- -------------------------------------------------            -------
    Roy H. Stahl
    Executive Vice President and General Counsel
    Aqua America, Inc.


                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



            CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (No. 333-81085) of Aqua America, Inc. of our report dated May 13, 2005
relating to the financial statements of the Aqua America, Inc. Employees 401(k)
Savings Plan and Trust included in this annual report on Form 11-K for the year
ended December 31, 2004.




                                                    /s/ BEARD MILLER COMPANY LLP




Reading, Pennsylvania
June 23, 2005


                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

                               AQUA AMERICA, INC.
                     EMPLOYEES 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST

                                Financial Report


                                December 31, 2004

         (With Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm)







AQUA AMERICA, INC. EMPLOYEES 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2004


PAGE ---- FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on the Financial Statements and Supplementary Information 1 Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits 2 Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits 3 Notes to Financial Statements 4 SUPPLEMENTARY SCHEDULES: Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) 9 Schedule of Nonexempt Transactions 10 Schedule of Delinquent Participant Contributions 11
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION To the Administrators Aqua America, Inc. Employees 401(k) Savings Plan and Trust We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Aqua America, Inc. Employees 401(k) Savings Plan and Trust as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related statements of changes in its net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Aqua America, Inc. Employees 401(k) Savings Plan and Trust as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplementary schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2004 and nonexempt transactions, and delinquent participant contributions for the year ended December 31, 2004 are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements, but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplementary schedules are the responsibility of the Plan's management. The supplementary schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. /s/BEARD MILLER COMPANY LLP Reading, Pennsylvania May 13, 2005 1 AQUA AMERICA, INC. EMPLOYEES 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS DECEMBER 31, 2004 AND 2003
2004 2003 ---------------- ---------------- ASSETS Investments, at fair value $39,210,796 $35,617,809 Cash and cash equivalents 0 6,317 Receivables: Employer contributions 0 2,902 Participants' contributions 0 51,177 ---------------- ---------------- NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS $39,210,796 $35,678,205 ================ ================
See notes to financial statements. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 AQUA AMERICA, INC. EMPLOYEES 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004 AND 2003
2004 2003 ---------------- ---------------- INVESTMENT INCOME Interest and dividends $ 935,680 $ 647,568 Net appreciation in fair value of investments 2,845,350 7,091,086 ---------------- ---------------- TOTAL INVESTMENT INCOME 3,781,030 7,738,654 ---------------- ---------------- CONTRIBUTIONS Employer 300,618 309,096 Participants 1,548,000 1,520,600 ---------------- ---------------- TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS 1,848,618 1,829,696 ---------------- ---------------- BENEFITS PAID TO PARTICIPANTS (2,094,200) (2,057,548) ---------------- ---------------- ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES (2,857) (2,763) ---------------- ---------------- NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS 3,532,591 7,508,039 NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS - BEGINNING OF YEAR 35,678,205 28,170,166 ---------------- ---------------- NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS - END OF YEAR $39,210,796 $35,678,205 ================ ================
See notes to financial statements. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 AQUA AMERICA, INC. EMPLOYEES 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2004 AND 2003 NOTE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF PLAN The following description of the Aqua America, Inc. Employees 401 (k) Savings Plan and Trust (the "Plan") is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Plan document for more complete information. GENERAL The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering substantially all non-bargaining unit employees with hire dates prior to April 1, 2003 of Aqua Illinois Inc., Aqua Ohio, Inc., Aqua New Jersey, Inc., Aqua Maine, Inc., Aqua North Carolina, Inc. (formerly Hydraulics, Ltd.), employees of certain divisions of Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. and some employees of other subsidiaries of Aqua America, Inc. (the "Company"). Employees became eligible to participate on January 1 of the year following the date on which his or her employment commenced. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). Employees covered under collective bargaining agreements are permitted to participate in the Plan if the collective bargaining agreement provides for participation. CONTRIBUTIONS Participants may elect to contribute from 1% to 25% of their pretax compensation pursuant to a salary deferral election, up to a maximum of $13,000 in 2004 and $12,000 in 2003 which are partially matched by the employer. Participants may also contribute from 1% to 10% of their after-tax compensation, which is not matched by the Company. Additionally, participants who are age 50 or who will attain age 50 prior to the plan year may make an additional deferral contribution ("Catch-Up"), provided the participant made the maximum amount of deferral contributions permitted under the Plan. The maximum amount of allowable catch-up contribution for 2004 and 2003 is $3,000 and $2,000, respectively. They may also make transfers or suspend their contributions at any time. In any Plan year, a participant's aggregate contributions to the Plan (salary deferral amounts plus after-tax voluntary contributions) may not exceed 35% of such participant's compensation for the applicable Plan year. The Plan provides for the Company to contribute an amount equal to 40% of the pretax employee contribution up to $1,040 for each participant. The Company's contributions consist of common stock in Aqua America, Inc. PARTICIPANTS' ACCOUNTS Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contribution and allocations of the Company's contribution and Plan earnings. Allocations are based on participant contributions or account balances, as defined by the Plan document. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 AQUA AMERICA, INC. EMPLOYEES 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2004 AND 2003 NOTE 1 - DESCRIPTION OF PLAN (CONTINUED) VESTING Each participant will always be 100% vested in all employee and Company contributions. COMMON STOCK FUND Matching contributions may be made in cash or invested in Aqua America, Inc. common stock. Participants have an opportunity to elect that any dividends with respect to Aqua America, Inc. common stock held be paid in cash rather than being allocated to their account to be invested in additional shares of Aqua America, Inc. common stock. INVESTMENT OPTIONS Participants can direct, at the time they enroll in the Plan, that their salary deferral and voluntary contributions be invested entirely in one of the funds offered by the Plan or divided among the funds. The Plan currently offers nine mutual funds and one common/collective trust fund. Subject to compliance with applicable state and federal securities laws, the Plan also permits participants to acquire an interest in Aqua America, Inc. common stock. Participants may change their investment instructions and reinvest their contributions in a different fund or funds at any time. PAYMENT OF BENEFITS Upon retirement, disability, or death, distributions will be paid as soon as administratively possible in a lump sum or as an annuity. Upon termination of service other than by retirement, disability, or death, a participant will receive a lump sum payment if the total of their employer matching and profit sharing contribution accounts does not exceed $5,000. If the account balances exceed $5,000, the assets will generally be held in a trust until the participant's normal or early retirement date. Withdrawals will be made in cash or shares of Aqua America, Inc. stock, to the extent permitted by law. Under certain circumstances, a participant may withdraw all or a portion of the employee contributions while still employed. LOANS DUE FROM PARTICIPANTS Participants may borrow funds from their account balance equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their vested account balance for a period not to exceed five years unless the loan is used to purchase the participant's principal residence. Repayment is made through payroll deductions. All new loans are issued at an interest rate of prime plus 1%. PLAN AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION Although the Company does not intend to terminate the Plan, it may do so at its discretion, subject to the provisions of ERISA. All interests of the participants would be distributed to them as determined in accordance with applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 AQUA AMERICA, INC. EMPLOYEES 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2004 AND 2003 NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES A summary of the significant accounting policies consistently applied in the preparation of the accompanying financial statements follows: BASIS OF ACCOUNTING The accompanying financial statements have been prepared using the accrual basis. USE OF ESTIMATES The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Plan's management to use estimates and assumptions that affect the accompanying financial statements and disclosures. Actual results could differ from these estimates. ADMINISTRATION The Plan is administered by a committee (the "Committee") consisting of three or more individuals selected by and who may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors of Aqua America, Inc. The Committee members may be employees of Aqua America, Inc. and may be participants in the Plan. The Committee members receive no compensation from the Plan for their services in such capacity. The Committee has extensive administrative powers in connection with the Plan, including authority to interpret the provisions of the Plan, to adopt rules for its administration and to make other decisions with respect to the Plan. The plan trustee invests funds as directed by the participants. The principal duties of the trustees are to receive all contributions paid to the Plan and to make investments and pay benefits. Substantially all of the administrative expenses of the Plan are paid by the Company. INVESTMENT VALUATION The Plan's investments are stated at fair value. Mutual funds are valued at quoted market prices which represents the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year end. Common/collective trust funds are valued at unit value, which represents the fair value of the underlying assets. Aqua America stock is valued at its quoted market price at year-end. Loans to participants, short-term investments and cash are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Investments of the Plan are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market, and credit. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investments and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of investments, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in risks in the near term would materially affect investment assets reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits and the statements of changes in net assets available for benefits. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 AQUA AMERICA, INC. EMPLOYEES 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2004 AND 2003 NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED) INVESTMENT VALUATION (CONTINUED) Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recorded when earned. Realized gains and losses on the sale of the Aqua America, Inc. stock are based on average cost. Purchases and sales are recorded on a trade date basis. NOTE 3 - INVESTMENTS The fair market values of individual assets that represent 5% or more of the Plan's net assets available for benefits as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 are as follows:
INVESTMENTS 2004 2003 ------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ---------------- Mutual funds: American Century Select Fund $ 7,599,820 $ 7,182,293 American Century Balanced Fund 3,046,178 2,808,862 Common/Collective Funds American Century Stable Asset Fund 3,266,620 2,875,007 Common Stock Aqua America, Inc. Common Stock 18,658,772 16,973,688
The Plan's investments (including gains and losses on investments brought and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated in value during the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 as follows:
2004 2003 ---------------- ---------------- Common stock $1,863,366 $4,334,240 Mutual funds 981,984 2,756,846 ---------------- ---------------- TOTAL $2,845,350 $7,091,086 ================ ================
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 AQUA AMERICA, INC. EMPLOYEES 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2004 AND 2003 NOTE 4 - NONPARTICIPANT-DIRECTED INVESTMENTS Information about the net assets available for benefits as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 and the significant components of the changes in net assets relating to the nonparticipant-directed investments for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 is as follows:
2004 2003 ---------------- ---------------- Net assets: Aqua America common stock $14,126,809 $12,791,911 Employer contribution receivable 0 2,902 ---------------- ---------------- $14,126,809 $12,794,813 ================ ================ Changes in net assets: Contributions $ 300,618 $ 309,096 Interest and dividends 284,252 265,239 Net appreciation 1,414,390 3,261,058 Benefits paid to participants (667,264) (695,005) ---------------- ---------------- TOTAL $1,331,996 $3,140,388 ================ ================
NOTE 5 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services. J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services is the trustee as defined by the Plan and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in interest transactions. NOTE 6 - TAX STATUS The Internal Revenue Service issued its latest determination letter dated October 8, 2003, which stated that the Plan and related trust, as amended, qualified under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and, therefore, are exempt from federal income taxes. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. The Plan administrator and the Plan's counsel believe that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with applicable requirements of the IRC. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan's financial statements. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 AQUA AMERICA, INC. EMPLOYEES 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR) FORM 5500 - SCHEDULE H - LINE 4I EIN: 01-0049450 PN: 003 DECEMBER 31, 2004
CURRENT (A) IDENTITY OF ISSUE (B) DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT (C) COST (D) VALUE (E) - ---- ------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------- --------- ------------ * American Century Balanced Fund Registered Investment Company N/A $ 3,046,178 * American Century Diversified Bond Fund Registered Investment Company N/A 384,092 * American Century Equity Index Fund Registered Investment Company N/A 1,139,567 * American Century International Growth Fund Registered Investment Company N/A 362,319 * American Century Select Fund Registered Investment Company N/A 7,599,820 * American Century Strategic Allocation Registered Investment Company Moderate Fund N/A 138,767 * American Century Value Fund Registered Investment Company N/A 1,887,828 * American Century Vista Fund Registered Investment Company N/A 1,327,178 * JP Morgan U.S. Small Company Registered Investment Company N/A 395,961 * American Century Stable Asset Fund Common/Collective Fund N/A 3,266,620 * Aqua America, Inc. Common Stock $7,671,579 18,658,772 Participant loans Participant Loans (interest rate 4.0% to 9.5%) 0 1,003,694 ----------- $39,210,796 ===========
* Represents a party-in-interest to the Plan. N/A Historical cost has not been presented as investment is participant directed. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 AQUA AMERICA, INC. EMPLOYEES 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCHEDULE OF NONEXEMPT TRANSACTIONS FORM 5500 - SCHEDULE G - PART III EIN: 01-0049450 PN: 003 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
NET GAIN OR LOSS IDENTITY OF PARTY RELATIONSHIP TO DESCRIPTION OF COST OF CURRENT VALUE ON EACH INVOLVED (A) PLAN (B) TRANSACTIONS (C) ASSET (H) OF ASSET (I) TRANSACTION (J) - ------------------- ---------------- ---------------------------- ---------- -------------- ----------------- Aqua America, Inc. Plan Sponsor Employee contributions not remitted timely to the Plan $117,426 $117,426 $ 0 Aqua America, Inc. Plan Sponsor Related earnings on employee contributions not remitted timely to the Plan 1,054 0 1,054
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 AQUA AMERICA, INC. EMPLOYEES 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCHEDULE OF DELINQUENT PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTIONS FORM 5500 - SCHEDULE H - LINE 4A EIN: 01-0049450 PN: 003 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
TOTAL THAT CONSTITUTE NONEXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- PARTICIPANT TOTAL FULLY CONTRIBUTIONS CONTRIBUTIONS CORRECTED UNDER TRANSFERRED LATE CONTRIBUTIONS NOT CORRECTED OUTSIDE CONTRIBUTIONS PENDING VFCP AND PTE TO THE PLAN CORRECTED VFCP CORRECTION IN VFCP 2002-51 - -------------------------- ------------------ ----------------- --------------------- ------------------ $117,426 $ 0 $117,426 $ 0 $ 0
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11