Earnings per share (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders	$ 2,092,525	$ 2,631,228
Less: preferred stock dividends	(2,478)	(2,642)
Net income available to common shares in the determination of basic earnings per common share	$ 2,090,047	$ 2,628,586
Weighted average number of common shares in the determination of basic earnings per common share attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. common stockholders	14,959,259	14,871,862
Plus:
Weighted average number of preferred shares outstanding during the period	33,084	35,225
Potential dilutive effect of unexercised options and unvested stock grants	122,134	128,132
Weighted average number of shares used for determining diluted earnings per common share attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. common stockholders	15,114,477	15,035,219

Amount of paid and unpaid preferred stock dividends declared with the form of settlement in cash, stock and payment-in-kind (PIK).

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