CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 32,310,781	$ 42,902,669
Accounts receivable, net	25,624,783	23,229,689
Inventory	6,282,173	3,287,555
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,353,521	2,346,918
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	1,968,324	1,675,781
Total current assets	68,539,582	73,442,612
Property, plant and equipment, net	61,239,413	61,248,979
Construction in progress	328,334	1,335,597
Inventory, non-current	4,534,074	4,404,378
Investment in OC-BVI	1,939,610	1,903,602
Goodwill	13,325,013	13,325,013
Land and rights of way held for development	24,162,523	24,162,523
Intangible assets, net	4,785,833	5,040,000
Operating lease right-of-use assets	4,043,717	4,439,212
Other assets	2,794,060	2,990,228
Total assets	185,692,159	192,292,144
Current liabilities
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities	4,364,590	3,672,142
Accrued compensation	1,077,650	1,821,395
Dividends payable	1,297,703	1,292,187
Current maturities of operating leases	761,540	755,751
Current portion of long-term debt	42,211	17,753
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	903,692	614,386
Total current liabilities	8,447,386	8,173,614
Long term debt	155,484	61,146
Deferred tax liabilities	1,448,306	1,529,035
Noncurrent operating leases	3,166,476	3,836,475
Net liability arising from put/call options	825,000	664,000
Other liabilities	75,000	75,000
Total liabilities	14,117,652	14,339,270
Commitments and contingencies
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders' equity
Redeemable preferred stock, $0.60 par value. Authorized 200,000 shares; issued and outstanding 33,751 and 33,751 shares, respectively	20,251	20,251
Additional paid-in capital	86,034,929	88,356,509
Retained earnings	67,951,962	66,352,733
Total Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders' equity	163,075,846	163,759,258
Non-controlling interests	8,498,661	14,193,616
Total equity	171,574,507	177,952,874
Total liabilities and equity	185,692,159	192,292,144
Common Class A [Member]
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders' equity
Common stock value	9,068,704	9,029,765
Common Class B [Member]
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders' equity
Common stock value	$ 0	$ 0

Represent the construction in progress net.

No definition available.

Name:	cwco_ConstructionInProgressNet
Namespace Prefix:	cwco_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and due within one year (or the operating cycle, if longer), including liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received, taxes, interest, rent and utilities, accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits.