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Equity Plans Equity Plans (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 purchase_interval	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of Activity under the Plan [Abstract]
Compensation costs charged to income	$ 1,031us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	$ 912us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	$ 564us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments	1,917us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	1,004us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	989us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions
Tax benefits realized from share options exercised	462us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities	28us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities	97us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Abstract]
Number of purchases intervals under the plan since inception	17sjw_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanNumberOfPurchasesSinceInception
Shares issued during the period under the plan	35,682us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans	30,869us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans	29,468us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
Cash received from employees toward purchases under the plan	854sjw_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEmployeeContributionsToEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	796sjw_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEmployeeContributionsToEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	627sjw_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEmployeeContributionsToEmployeeStockPurchasePlan
Restricted Stock and Deferred Restricted Stock [Member]
Summary of Activity under the Plan [Abstract]
Compensation costs charged to income	883us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = sjw_RestrictedStockAndDeferredRestrictedStockMember	784us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = sjw_RestrictedStockAndDeferredRestrictedStockMember	460us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = sjw_RestrictedStockAndDeferredRestrictedStockMember
Tax benefits realized from share options exercised	249us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = sjw_RestrictedStockAndDeferredRestrictedStockMember	97us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = sjw_RestrictedStockAndDeferredRestrictedStockMember	36us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = sjw_RestrictedStockAndDeferredRestrictedStockMember
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Abstract]
Unrecognized compensation cost	1,606us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = sjw_RestrictedStockAndDeferredRestrictedStockMember
Deferred Restricted Stock Awards [Member]
Dividend Equivalent Rights [Abstract]
Cumulative dividend equivalent rights converted to deferred restricted stock awards	66,458sjw_CumulativeDividendEquivalentRightsConvertedToDeferredRestrictedStockAwards / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = sjw_DeferredRestrictedStockAwardsMember	61,733sjw_CumulativeDividendEquivalentRightsConvertedToDeferredRestrictedStockAwards / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = sjw_DeferredRestrictedStockAwardsMember	56,349sjw_CumulativeDividendEquivalentRightsConvertedToDeferredRestrictedStockAwards / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = sjw_DeferredRestrictedStockAwardsMember
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Summary of Activity under the Plan [Abstract]
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments	1,044us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember	198us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember	318us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Tax benefits realized from share options exercised	213us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember	(69)us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember	61us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Dividend Equivalent Rights [Member]
Dividend Equivalent Rights [Abstract]
Liability for dividend equivalent rights	122sjw_LiabilityForDividendEquivalentRightsPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = sjw_DividendEquivalentRightsMember	128sjw_LiabilityForDividendEquivalentRightsPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = sjw_DividendEquivalentRightsMember	128sjw_LiabilityForDividendEquivalentRightsPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = sjw_DividendEquivalentRightsMember
Incentive Plan [Member]
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity [Line Items]
Number of shares reserved for issuance under the plan	1,800,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = sjw_IncentivePlanMember
Maximum number of shares per employee	600,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumNumberOfSharesPerEmployee / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = sjw_IncentivePlanMember
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Shares Issued Pursuant To The Plan	429,352sjw_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedPursuantToPlan / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = sjw_IncentivePlanMember	341,914sjw_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedPursuantToPlan / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = sjw_IncentivePlanMember	287,534sjw_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedPursuantToPlan / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = sjw_IncentivePlanMember
Shares issuable under the plan upon exercise of outstanding awards	296,831sjw_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuableUponExercise / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = sjw_IncentivePlanMember	307,919sjw_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuableUponExercise / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = sjw_IncentivePlanMember	327,093sjw_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuableUponExercise / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = sjw_IncentivePlanMember
Number of shares available for grant	1,073,817us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = sjw_IncentivePlanMember
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity [Line Items]
Number of shares reserved for issuance under the plan	3,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = sjw_DividendReinvestmentAndStockPurchasePlanMember
Shares issued under the plan	829sjw_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesDividendReinvestmentAndStockPurchasePlan / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = sjw_DividendReinvestmentAndStockPurchasePlanMember	3,487sjw_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesDividendReinvestmentAndStockPurchasePlan / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = sjw_DividendReinvestmentAndStockPurchasePlanMember	1,679sjw_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesDividendReinvestmentAndStockPurchasePlan / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = sjw_DividendReinvestmentAndStockPurchasePlanMember
Summary of Activity under the Plan [Abstract]
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments	34us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = sjw_DividendReinvestmentAndStockPurchasePlanMember	84us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = sjw_DividendReinvestmentAndStockPurchasePlanMember	83us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = sjw_DividendReinvestmentAndStockPurchasePlanMember
Employee Stock [Member]
Summary of Activity under the Plan [Abstract]
Compensation costs charged to income	148us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember	128us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember	104us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and similar instruments	839us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember	722us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember	588us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Abstract]
Purchase price of common stock to employees under the plan, percent	85.00%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardPurchasePriceOfCommonStockPercent / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
Maximum amount of base salary employees can designate for share purchase under the plan	10.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumEmployeeSubscriptionRate / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
Expenses recorded under the plan	151us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember	140us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember	110us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 68us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember

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Cumulative Dividend Equivalent Rights Converted to Deferred Restricted Stock Awards

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Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Number of Purchases Since Inception

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Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Employee Contributions to Employee Stock Purchase Plan

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Number of shares reserved for issuance under equity instrument agreements awarded that validly exist and are outstanding, including vested instruments.

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Cumulative number of shares issued pursuant to the Plan.

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Number of shares issued during the period from a dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan (DRSPP). A dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan allows the shareholders to reinvest dividends paid to them by the entity on new issues of stock by the entity and to purchase additional shares.

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Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

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Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

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Amount of cash inflow from realized tax benefit related to deductible compensation cost reported on the entity's tax return for equity instruments in excess of the compensation cost for those instruments recognized for financial reporting purposes.

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The total cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders to acquire the entity's shares under incentive and share awards, including stock option exercises. This item inherently excludes any excess tax benefit, which the entity may have realized and reported separately.

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-Glossary Financing Activities

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The highest percentage of annual salary that an employee is permitted to utilize with respect to the plan.

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The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

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Purchase price of common stock expressed as a percentage of its fair value.

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-Number 210

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-Article 3



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