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Accounting policies - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 11, 2020	Jan. 24, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax [Abstract]
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax			$ 14,751	$ 20,441	$ 56,050	$ 54,586
Contracts in progress
Unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts in progress			2,300,000		2,300,000
Revenue expected to earn as it satisfies its performance obligations during the remainder of the year ending December 31, 2020			400,000		400,000
Revenue expected to earn as it satisfies its performance obligations after year ending December 31, 2020			1,900,000		$ 1,900,000
Aerex
Contracts in progress
Ownership interest acquired		49.00%
Cash		$ 8,500,000
Ownership interest held		100.00%
PERC Water Corporation
Contracts in progress
Ownership interest acquired	10.00%
Cash	$ 900,000
Ownership interest held	61.00%
Minimum [Member]
Contracts in progress
Number of days after consumption billings are collected					30 days
Maximum [Member]
Contracts in progress
Number of days after consumption billings are collected					35 days
Bahamas [Member]
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Deposits held in foreign bank			12,400,000		$ 12,400,000
Certificates of Deposit [Member]
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value			11,000,000.0		11,000,000.0		$ 12,700,000
Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value			$ 11,000,000.0		$ 11,000,000.0		$ 12,700,000

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