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Commitments Narrative (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  | 12 Months Ended |  | 12 Months Ended
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Nov. 14, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2013 agreement | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2013 Santa Clara Valley Water District [Member] gal | Dec. 31, 2012 Santa Clara Valley Water District [Member] gal | Dec. 31, 2011 Santa Clara Valley Water District [Member] gal | Dec. 31, 1997 Service Agreements [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Service Agreements [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Concession Fees [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Concession Fees [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 SJWTX,Inc. dba Canyon Lake Water Supply Corporation [Member] Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority [Member] acre_foot | Dec. 31, 2013 SJW Corp. [Member] employee | Dec. 31, 2013 Executive, Administrative or Supervisory Personnel [Member] SJW Corp. [Member] employee | Dec. 31, 2013 Union Member [Member] SJW Corp. [Member] employee | Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Master contract, negotiated term for delivery schedules |  |  |  |  | 3 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Water purchased in millions of gallons |  |  |  |  | 22,700,000,000 | 22,800,000,000 | 21,900,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchased water |  | $ 63,225 | $ 66,106 | $ 54,317 | $ 52,500 | $ 48,800 | $ 43,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum percent of delivery schedule to be purchased in 2013 |  |  |  |  | 90.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum volume of water to be purchased in 2013 |  |  |  |  | 21,000,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of water to be purchased in 2013 |  |  |  |  | 50,300 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current contract water rate |  |  |  |  | 2.4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contrasct life of agreement with City of Cupertino |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 25 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years | 70 years
Concession fee with City of Cupertino |  | 18,341 | 15,561 |  |  |  |  |  | 10,077 | 6,800 | 6,800 |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Minimum Area Required, Next Twelve Months |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,700 |  |  |  |  |
Notice period required for contract adjustment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60 days |  |  |  |  |
Number of water agreements |  | 180 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Water property rights commitments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 819 | $ 1,300
Number of employees |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 340 | 107 | 233 |  |
Collective Bargaining Agreement, Term of Contract | 3 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collective bargaining agreement percent of wage increase for 2011 | 2.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collective bargaining agreement percent of wage increase for 2012 | 2.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Collective bargaining agreement percent of wage increase for 2013 | 3.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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