Aqua America Promotes Four Veterans to Senior Officers.

BRYN MAWR, Pa. -- The Board of Directors of Aqua America, Inc. (NYSE:WTR) yesterday approved the promotion of four veteran company officers, Christopher Franklin, Mark Kropilak, Karl Kyriss, and Kathy Pape, to the level of senior officer.

"I am pleased that our Board of Directors has approved the promotion of these three individuals who have played such a large role in our company's success during their tenure at Aqua America," said Aqua America Chairman and CEO Nicholas DeBenedictis. "Aqua America has a strong management team in place and each of these individuals, as evidenced by their accomplishments, have proven their expertise in their respective areas as water professionals as well as their leadership and management ability."

Christopher Franklin, who has been with Aqua America since December 1992, has been promoted to regional president, Aqua America southern operations and senior vice president, public affairs and customer operations. In December 2002, he was promoted to vice president, public affairs and customer operations. "Chris has headed several successful projects including leading the company's lobbying efforts to effect favorable utility legislation in several states, increasing the company's visibility in the media and on Wall Street, changing the name of the company and its subsidiaries and most recently, the consolidation of the company's call centers, which is scheduled for completion this spring," said DeBenedictis.

In his new role as regional president of the company's southern operations, Franklin will have overall operations responsibility for the companies' subsidiaries in Texas, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, which collectively serve approximately 600,000 residents. Franklin will retain his public affairs and customer operations responsibilities as well. Franklin earned his BS from West Chester University and his Executive MBA from Villanova University.

Mark Kropilak has been promoted to senior vice president, corporate development and corporate counsel from the position of vice president, corporate development, the position he's held since October 2002. "Since Mark has headed the company's corporate development effort, Aqua America has completed more than 100 acquisitions and growth ventures, expanding the service territory into seven additional states and increasing the customer base by nearly 50 percent," said DeBenedictis.

Kropilak joined Aqua America in 1985 and has served as corporate counsel, and vice president and general counsel before heading the company's corporate development group. Prior to joining the company, Kropilak was employed by the law firm of Morgan Lewis in Philadelphia where he practiced in the areas of public utility law, administrative law and environmental law. Kropilak graduated from St. Vincent College with highest honors, receiving a degree in Economics and a minor in Accounting. He earned his JD degree from Columbia University School of Law. In April 2002, Kropilak completed the Executive MBA program at Villanova University and was selected for membership in the business honor society Beta Gamma Sigma.

Karl Kyriss, regional president of Aqua America's Mid-Atlantic operation, has been promoted to recognize the expansion of his responsibilities beyond Pennsylvania to include New Jersey and New York. "Since rejoining Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. as president in June 2003, Karl has assumed responsibility for an increased customer base of 114,000--a 28 percent increase--and operating responsibility for two additional states," said DeBenedictis. Kyriss, who previously worked for Aqua Pennsylvania between 1981 and 1989 as manager, treatment and quality control, rejoined Aqua Pennsylvania in June 2003 as president.

Prior to joining Aqua America, Kyriss spent 10 years at American Water Works Company, where he was most recently vice president, operations, northeast region. Kyriss has a B.S. in chemical engineering and an M.S. in chemical and biochemical engineering, both from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a licensed professional engineer in Pennsylvania.

Kathy Pape has been promoted to senior vice president, treasurer and rate counsel from vice president treasurer and rate counsel. "Since joining Aqua America in August 1999 as vice president, Kathy has led our operating subsidiaries through dozens of successful rate cases," said DeBenedictis. "Additionally, she has reduced the company's long-term debt costs by two percent from just above seven percent to just above five percent through tax-exempt financing, including previously under-utilized state revolving loan funds, saving the company and rate payers millions of dollars in interest expense."

Prior to joining Aqua America, Pape was corporate counsel and treasurer of American Water Works Service Company and vice president of General Waterworks. Previous to that she was an attorney with the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate and Public Utility Commission. Pape received a BA in political science from Edinboro University, a JD from Dickinson School of Law and a LLM in taxation from Villanova University School of Law.

Aqua America, Inc. is a publicly-traded water utility holding company, with operating subsidiaries serving approximately 2.8 million residents in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, Maine, Missouri, and South Carolina. Aqua America is listed on both the New York and Philadelphia Stock Exchanges under the ticker symbol WTR.

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