Preferred Stock	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract]
Preferred Stock	NOTE 8:  PREFERRED STOCKThe Company’s Preferred Stock at December 31, consisted of the following:(in thousands, except share data) 2012 2011Connecticut Water Service, Inc.    Cumulative Series A Voting, $20 Par Value; Authorized, Issued and Outstanding 15,000 Shares $300 $300Cumulative Series $0.90 Non-Voting, $16 Par Value; Authorized 50,000 Shares, Issued and Outstanding 29,499 472 472Total Preferred Stock $772 $772All or any part of any series of either class of the Company's issued Preferred Stock may be called for redemption by the Company at any time.  The per share redemption prices of the Series A and Series $0.90 Preferred Stock, if called by the Company, are $21.00 and $16.00, respectively.The Company is authorized to issue 400,000 shares of an additional class of Preferred Stock, $25 par value, the general preferences, voting powers, restrictions and qualifications of which are similar to the Company's existing Preferred Stock.  No shares of the $25 par value Preferred Stock have been issued.The Company is also authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of $1 par value Preference Stock, junior to the Company's existing Preferred Stock in rights to dividends and upon liquidation of the Company.  150,000 of such shares have been designated as “Series A Junior Participating Preference Stock”.