Interest Rate Swap Agreement (Details) (Interest Rate Swap [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Notional amount of swaps	$ 12,000
Net payment rate on swaps	3.00%
Interest rate swap settlements reclassified to interest expense	90
Interest rate swap gain (loss) capitalized	128
Interest rate swap settlements to be reclassified during the next 12 months	354
Potential payment to counterparty	$ 2,759

Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

-Section 13

-Sentence Column B

+ Details

Name:	invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

- Definition

The amount of gains or losses on a an interest rate swap capitalized in the period to regulatory assets or liabilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	yorw_InterestRateSwapGainLossCapitalized
Namespace Prefix:	yorw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount reclassified in the period to interest expense from regulatory assets or liabilities as a result of interest rate swap settlements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	yorw_InterestRateSwapSettlementsReclassifiedToInterestExpense
Namespace Prefix:	yorw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The estimated amount as of the balance sheet date expected to be reclassified to interest expense from regulatory assets or liabilities within the next twelve months as a result of interest rate swap settlements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	yorw_InterestRateSwapSettlementsToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12Months
Namespace Prefix:	yorw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Net payment on the swaps with counterparty. Swaps are used to effectively convert variable-rate debt to a fixed rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	yorw_NetPaymentRateOnSwaps
Namespace Prefix:	yorw_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The potential amount payable to the interest rate swap counter party due to certain violations of the terms and conditions of the swap agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	yorw_PotentialPaymentToCounterparty
Namespace Prefix:	yorw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant