XML 70 R55.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.6.0.2

Accounting policies (Details Textual) - USD ($) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Feb. 11, 2016
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax |  | $ 50,299 | $ (485,291) | $ (111,409) |
Cash Deposits In Excess Of Federally Insured Limits |  | 2,000,000 |  |  |
Accumulated Amortization of Other Deferred Costs |  | $ 1,800,000 | 1,600,000 |  |
Equity Method Investment, Additional Information |  | The Company uses the equity method of accounting for investments in common stock where the Company holds 20% to 50% of the voting stock of the investee and has significant influence over its operating and financial policies but does not meet the criteria for consolidation. |  |  |
Criteria For Recognizing Investment At Cost |  | Investments where the Company does not exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee and holds less than 20% of the voting stock are recorded at cost. |  |  |
Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value |  | $ 37,754,409 | 27,871,149 |  |
Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Held In Foreign Bank |  | 40,000,000 |  |  |
Goodwill |  | 9,784,248 | 3,499,037 |  |
Goodwill, Impairment Loss |  | $ 1,750,000 | 0 | $ 0 |
Aerex Industries Inc [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Estimated Fair Value Carrying Amount Exceeded Percentage |  | 26.00% |  |  |
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired |  |  |  |  | 51.00%
Goodwill | $ 6,285,211 |  |  |  | $ 8,035,211
Goodwill, Impairment Loss | $ 1,750,000 |  |  |  |
Certificates of Deposit [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value |  | $ 1,000,000 | $ 13,600,000 |  |
BELIZE |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Deposits held in foreign bank |  | 4,900,000 |  |  |
BAHAMAS |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Deposits held in foreign bank |  | $ 5,900,000 |  |  |
Retail [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Estimated Fair Value Carrying Amount Exceeded Percentage |  | 123.00% | 72.00% |  |
Goodwill |  | $ 1,170,511 | $ 1,170,511 |  |
Goodwill, Impairment Loss |  | $ 0 |  |  |
Bulk [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Estimated Fair Value Carrying Amount Exceeded Percentage |  | 41.00% | 20.00% |  |
Goodwill |  | $ 2,328,526 | $ 2,328,526 |  |
Goodwill, Impairment Loss |  | 0 |  |  |
Capitalized Engineering Labor and Materials Cost [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Other Assets |  | $ 3,500,000 | $ 3,500,000 |  |

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cwco_AccountingPoliciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | cwco_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the amount cash held in foreign bank accounts including restricted cash. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cwco_CashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsHeldInForeignBank
Namespace Prefix: | cwco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the amount of deposits in excess of federally insured limits. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cwco_CashDepositsInExcessOfFederallyInsuredLimits
Namespace Prefix: | cwco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the conditions to recognize the investment value in cost. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cwco_CrieteriaForRecognisingInvestmentAtCost
Namespace Prefix: | cwco_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of deposits held in foreign banks, as stated in equivalent United States dollars. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cwco_DepositsHeldInForeignBank
Namespace Prefix: | cwco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the exceeded percentage of estimated fair value of reporting segments. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cwco_EstimatedFairValuEcarryingAmountExceededPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | cwco_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Accumulated amortization of other deferred costs capitalized at the end of the reporting period. Does not include deferred finance costs, deferred acquisition costs of insurance companies, or deferred leasing costs for real estate operations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccumulatedAmortizationOfOtherDeferredCosts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65885119&loc=d3e1392-128463 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash Equivalents -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This serves as a place to record data that is not required by accounting literature but is useful for readers of the financial statements as it relates to the details of an equity method investment in common stock. Such information may include the amount of change for a change in ownership (equity) percentage in a given period and the amount and type of the consideration given or received in relation to the change in ownership. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentAdditionalInformation
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized and unrealized gain (loss) recognized in the income statement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450222&loc=d3e30840-110895 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64836518&loc=d3e30700-110894 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64836518&loc=d3e30690-110894 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64834752&loc=SL49117168-202975 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of loss from the write-down of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13854-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13777-109266 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of assets classified as other. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(10)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(10)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(17)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=cwco_AerexIndustriesIncMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis=us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_BZ
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_BS
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=cwco_RetailMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=cwco_BulkMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=cwco_CapitalizedEngineeringLaborAndMaterialsCostMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |