XML 59 R72.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Contingencies and Environmental Remediation (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 2 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 item | Dec. 12, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 28, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Litigation contingencies |  |  |  |  |
Reasonably possible loss in excess of the amount accrued for its legal contingencies | 5.8 us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum |  | $ 5.8 us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum |  |
Connector Class Action |  |  |  |  |
Litigation contingencies |  |  |  |  |
Number of class action complaints | 3 wts_NumberOfClassActionComplaints / us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis = wts_WaterHeatersClassActionMember |  |  |  |
Trabakoolas et al., v, Watts Water Technologies, Inc., et al. |  |  |  |  |
Litigation contingencies |  |  |  |  |
Total settlement amount |  | 23.0 us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount / us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis = wts_TrabakoolasEtAlVWattsWaterTechnologiesIncEtAlMember |  |  |
Possible loss |  | 14.0 us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss / us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis = wts_TrabakoolasEtAlVWattsWaterTechnologiesIncEtAlMember |  |  |
Insurance proceeds |  | 9.0 us-gaap_LossContingencyReceivable / us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis = wts_TrabakoolasEtAlVWattsWaterTechnologiesIncEtAlMember |  |  |
Liability recorded | (8.8)us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis = wts_TrabakoolasEtAlVWattsWaterTechnologiesIncEtAlMember |  | (8.8)us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis = wts_TrabakoolasEtAlVWattsWaterTechnologiesIncEtAlMember |  | 22.6 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue / us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis = wts_TrabakoolasEtAlVWattsWaterTechnologiesIncEtAlMember
Liability recorded, current |  |  |  |  | 12.7 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueCurrent / us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis = wts_TrabakoolasEtAlVWattsWaterTechnologiesIncEtAlMember
Liability recorded, noncurrent |  |  |  |  | 9.9 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueNoncurrent / us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis = wts_TrabakoolasEtAlVWattsWaterTechnologiesIncEtAlMember
Insurance proceeds, current assets |  |  |  | 9.0 us-gaap_LossContingencyReceivableCurrent / us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis = wts_TrabakoolasEtAlVWattsWaterTechnologiesIncEtAlMember | 9.0 us-gaap_LossContingencyReceivableCurrent / us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis = wts_TrabakoolasEtAlVWattsWaterTechnologiesIncEtAlMember
Reduction in liability |  |  | $ 13.8 us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis = wts_TrabakoolasEtAlVWattsWaterTechnologiesIncEtAlMember |  |
Period for payment of remaining liability |  |  | 4 years |  |
Asbestos Litigation |  |  |  |  |
Litigation contingencies |  |  |  |  |
Number of lawsuits the entity is defending in different jurisdictions |  |  | 240 us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfDefendants / us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis = wts_AsbestosLitigationMember |  |

X
- Definition Amount of judgment or settlement awarded to (against) the entity in respect of litigation. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of loss contingency liability. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of loss contingency liability expected to be resolved within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of loss contingency liability expected to be resolved after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValueNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in loss contingency liability. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Reflects the estimated amount of loss from the specified contingency as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of defendants named in a legal action. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfDefendants
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The estimated maximum amount of possible loss from the contingency. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of receivable related to a loss contingency accrual. For example, an insurance recovery receivable. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12053-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyReceivable
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of receivable related to a loss contingency accrual that is expected to be collected within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. For example, an insurance recovery receivable. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12053-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyReceivableCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the number of separate putative class action complaints. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wts_NumberOfClassActionComplaints
Namespace Prefix: | wts_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Period for Payment of Remaining Liability + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wts_PeriodForPaymentOfRemainingLiability
Namespace Prefix: | wts_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=wts_TrabakoolasEtAlVWattsWaterTechnologiesIncEtAlMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=wts_WaterHeatersClassActionMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=wts_AsbestosLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |