Represents amortization period of other deferred assets.

No definition available.

Name:	artna_AmortizationPeriodOfOtherDeferredAssets
Namespace Prefix:	artna_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents capitalize rate of allowance for funds used during construction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	artna_CapitalizeRateOfAllowanceForFundsUsedDuringConstruction
Namespace Prefix:	artna_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents depreciation rates of water utility plant during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	artna_DepreciationRatesOfWaterUtilityPlant
Namespace Prefix:	artna_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Wholly owned subsidiaries of Artesian Resources Corporation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	artna_NumberOfWhollyOwnedSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix:	artna_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	artna_UtilityPlantAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	artna_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	artna_UtilitySubsidiaryAccountingAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	artna_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortizationAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAccumulatedDepreciation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Period end amount of total net PPE.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period end amount of total gross PPE.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentPlantInService
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=artna_PropertyHeldForFutureUseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsegmentsAxis=us-gaap_WaterPlantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=artna_MainsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=artna_ServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=artna_StorageTanksMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=artna_MetersMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=artna_HydrantsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis=artna_IntangiblePlantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis=artna_SourceOfSupplyPlantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis=artna_PumpingAndWaterTreatmentPlantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis=artna_GeneralPlantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsegmentsAxis=artna_UtilityPlantInServiceWastewaterMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis=artna_TreatmentAndDisposalPlantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PublicUtilityAxis=artna_CollectionMainsAndLiftStationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Subsidiary	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015
Utility Subsidiary Accounting [Abstract]
Number of wholly owned subsidiaries \| Subsidiary	5
Utility Plant [Abstract]
Capitalized rate of AFUDC	7.70%	8.10%	8.10%
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Utility plant, gross	$ 577,447	$ 535,186
Less - accumulated depreciation	116,945	109,684
Utility plant, net	$ 460,502	$ 425,502
Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation rates of water utility plant	2.27%	2.25%	2.29%
Minimum [Member]
Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract]
Amortization period of other deferred assets	20 years
Maximum [Member]
Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract]
Amortization period of other deferred assets	24 years
Property Held for Future Use [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	0 years
Utility plant, gross	$ 14,647	$ 14,815
Construction in Progress [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	0 years
Utility plant, gross	$ 12,700	6,674
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] \| Mains [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	81 years
Utility plant, gross	$ 252,569	236,261
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] \| Services [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	39 years
Utility plant, gross	$ 42,232	38,803
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] \| Storage Tanks [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	76 years
Utility plant, gross	$ 24,729	24,108
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] \| Meters [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	26 years
Utility plant, gross	$ 25,628	24,710
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] \| Hydrants [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	60 years
Utility plant, gross	$ 13,760	12,870
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] \| Intangible plant [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Estimated useful life	0 years
Utility plant, gross	$ 140	140
Utility plant in service-Water [Member] \| Source of supply plant [Member]
Summary of utility plant comprises [Abstract]
Utility plant, gross	$ 20,959	19,627
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	$ 81,180	78,542
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	$ 56,784	53,417
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	$ 1,006	931
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	$ 17,421	15,613
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	$ 13,692	$ 8,675