CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Operating revenue	$ 121,727	$ 121,985
Operations:
Water production costs	41,069	45,202
Administrative and general	27,827	27,695
Other operations	19,302	15,843
Maintenance	6,063	4,457
Depreciation and amortization	16,046	15,319
Income tax (benefit) expense	(925)	613
Property and other taxes	6,075	5,359
Total operating expenses	115,457	114,488
Net operating income	6,270	7,497
Other income and expenses:
Non-regulated revenue	3,428	3,247
Non-regulated expenses	(2,980)	(2,243)
Income tax (expense) on other income and expenses	(181)	(403)
Net other income	267	601
Interest expense:
Interest expense	8,065	7,069
Less: capitalized interest	(730)	(546)
Net interest expense	7,335	6,523
Net (loss) income	$ (798)	$ 1,575
Net (loss) income per share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.03
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.03
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	47,905	47,825
Diluted (in shares)	47,905	47,854
Dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.1725	$ 0.1675