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Intangible Assets Narrative (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 1997
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Intangible assets $ 19,333us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross $ 18,341us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross    
Net intangible assets 13,781us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet 13,156us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet    
Amortization of Intangible Assets 367us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets 354us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets 340us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets  
Future Amortization of Intangible Assets        
2015 367us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths      
2016 367us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo      
2017 367us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree      
2018 367us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour      
2019 367us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive      
Concession Fees [Member]        
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Intangible assets 6,800us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= sjw_ConcessionFeesMember
6,800us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= sjw_ConcessionFeesMember
   
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets 4,692us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= sjw_ConcessionFeesMember
4,420us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= sjw_ConcessionFeesMember
   
Other Intangible Assets [Member]        
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Intangible assets 12,533us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
11,541us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
   
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets 860us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
765us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
   
Service Agreements [Member]        
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Intangible assets 11,069us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_ServiceAgreementsMember
     
Useful life of intangible assets       25 years
Contractual Rights [Member]        
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Intangible assets 1,040us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_ContractualRightsMember
     
Other Miscellaneous Intangibles [Member]        
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Intangible assets $ 424us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= sjw_OtherMiscellaneousIntangiblesMember
     
Minimum [Member]        
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Useful life of intangible assets 5 years      
Maximum [Member]        
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]        
Useful life of intangible assets 70 years