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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 Subsidiary	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Utility Subsidiary Accounting [Abstract]
Number of wholly owned subsidiaries	5artna_NumberOfWhollyOwnedSubsidiaries
Utility Plant [Abstract]
Capitalized rate of AFUDC (in hundredths)	8.20%artna_CapitalizeRateOfAllowanceForFundsUsedDuringConstruction	8.20%artna_CapitalizeRateOfAllowanceForFundsUsedDuringConstruction	8.20%artna_CapitalizeRateOfAllowanceForFundsUsedDuringConstruction
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Utility plant, gross	$ 491,725us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService	$ 468,398us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService
Less - accumulated depreciation	97,932us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAccumulatedDepreciation	89,438us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAccumulatedDepreciation
Utility plant, net	393,793us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	378,960us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation rates of water utility plant (in hundredths)	2.30%artna_DepreciationRatesOfWaterUtilityPlant	2.30%artna_DepreciationRatesOfWaterUtilityPlant	2.29%artna_DepreciationRatesOfWaterUtilityPlant
Minimum [Member]
Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract]
Amortization period of other deferred assets	2 years
Maximum [Member]
Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract]
Amortization period of other deferred assets	40 years
Property Held for Future Use [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	0 years
Utility plant, gross	14,440us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = artna_PropertyHeldForFutureUseMember	14,865us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = artna_PropertyHeldForFutureUseMember
Construction in Progress [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	0 years
Utility plant, gross	3,180us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressMember	5,793us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressMember
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] | Mains [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	81 years
Utility plant, gross	216,174us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = artna_MainsMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember	205,759us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = artna_MainsMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] | Services [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	39 years
Utility plant, gross	34,708us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = artna_ServicesMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember	32,912us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = artna_ServicesMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] | Storage Tanks [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	76 years
Utility plant, gross	23,943us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = artna_StorageTanksMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember	23,895us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = artna_StorageTanksMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] | Meters [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	26 years
Utility plant, gross	22,460us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = artna_MetersMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember	21,585us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = artna_MetersMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] | Hydrants [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	60 years
Utility plant, gross	11,540us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = artna_HydrantsMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember	10,964us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = artna_HydrantsMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] | Intangible plant [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	0 years
Utility plant, gross	140us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis = artna_IntangiblePlantMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember	140us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis = artna_IntangiblePlantMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] | Source of supply plant [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Utility plant, gross	19,029us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis = artna_SourceOfSupplyPlantMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember	17,778us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis = artna_SourceOfSupplyPlantMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] | Source of supply plant [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	45 years
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] | Source of supply plant [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	85 years
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] | Pumping and water treatment plant [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Utility plant, gross	73,432us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis = artna_PumpingAndWaterTreatmentPlantMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember	65,089us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis = artna_PumpingAndWaterTreatmentPlantMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] | Pumping and water treatment plant [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	8 years
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] | Pumping and water treatment plant [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	62 years
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] | General plant [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Utility plant, gross	52,081us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis = artna_GeneralPlantMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember	49,593us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis = artna_GeneralPlantMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = us-gaap_WaterPlantMember
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] | General plant [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	3 years
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] | General plant [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	31 years
Utility plant in service-Wastewater [Member] | General plant [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Utility plant, gross	883us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis = artna_GeneralPlantMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = artna_UtilityPlantInServiceWastewaterMember	860us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis = artna_GeneralPlantMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = artna_UtilityPlantInServiceWastewaterMember
Utility plant in service-Wastewater [Member] | General plant [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	3 years
Utility plant in service-Wastewater [Member] | General plant [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	31 years
Utility plant in service-Wastewater [Member] | Treatment and Disposal Plant [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Utility plant, gross	12,815us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis = artna_TreatmentAndDisposalPlantMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = artna_UtilityPlantInServiceWastewaterMember	12,420us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis = artna_TreatmentAndDisposalPlantMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = artna_UtilityPlantInServiceWastewaterMember
Utility plant in service-Wastewater [Member] | Treatment and Disposal Plant [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	35 years
Utility plant in service-Wastewater [Member] | Treatment and Disposal Plant [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	62 years
Utility plant in service-Wastewater [Member] | Collection Mains & Lift Stations [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	81 years
Utility plant, gross	$ 6,900us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis = artna_CollectionMainsAndLiftStationsMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = artna_UtilityPlantInServiceWastewaterMember	$ 6,745us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService / us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis = artna_CollectionMainsAndLiftStationsMember / artna_TypeOfUtilityPlantInServiceAxis = artna_UtilityPlantInServiceWastewaterMember

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- Definition

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- Definition

Wholly owned subsidiaries of Artesian Resources Corporation.

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Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

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Period end book value of accumulated depreciation on property, plant and equipment (PPE) that is owned by the regulated operations of the public utility.

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- Definition

Period end amount of total net PPE.

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Period end amount of total gross PPE.

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