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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Asset Retirement Obligation) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
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Accounting Policies [Abstract] |  |
Retirement obligation | $ 4,355us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation | $ 4,612us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
Discount rate | 6.00%sjw_AssetRetirementObligationDiscountRate | 6.00%sjw_AssetRetirementObligationDiscountRate
Present value, recorded as a liability | 1,994sjw_AssetRetirementObligationPresentValue | 1,733sjw_AssetRetirementObligationPresentValue
Deferred tax | 1,371sjw_AssetRetirementObligationDeferredTax | 1,192sjw_AssetRetirementObligationDeferredTax
Regulatory asset | $ 3,365us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLegallyRestrictedAssetsFairValue | $ 2,925us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLegallyRestrictedAssetsFairValue

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- Definition Asset Retirement Obligation, Deferred Tax + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Asset Retirement Obligation, Discount Rate + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | num:percentItemType
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- Definition Asset Retirement Obligation, Present Value + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | sjw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Details
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- Definition The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Asset Retirement Obligation -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505190 + Details
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Balance Type: | credit
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- Definition Carrying amount of an asset that is legally restricted for purposes of settling an asset retirement obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 410 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant