SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2017 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 shares	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($) shares	Apr. 30, 2015 shares	Feb. 28, 2015 USD ($) shares	Aug. 31, 2011 shares	Dec. 31, 2016 agreement $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2015 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2012 shares
Shareholder's Equity
Common stock, par value per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							$ 1.00	$ 1.00
Common stock, shares authorized							800,000,000	800,000,000
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							$ 1.420	$ 1.340	$ 1.155
Number of undesignated preferred stock designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock										400,000
Number of accelerated repurchase agreements | agreement							2
Common Stock
Shareholder's Equity
Common stock, par value per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							$ 1.00	$ 1.00	$ 1.00
Common stock, shares authorized							800,000,000	800,000,000	800,000,000
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares							$ 1.420	$ 1.340	$ 1.155
Common stock, shares authorized to be repurchased					20,000,000
Authorized amount of share repurchase program | $					$ 1,000
Remaining shares authorized to be repurchased							16,772,526
Amount of common stock to be repurchased under ASR agreement | $	$ 300		$ 300		$ 300
Shares received under ASR agreement		232,012	2,459,490	555,511	2,066,293
Shares received under the ASR agreement compared to the shares the company expected to receive (as a percent)			85.00%		80.00%
Number of shares reacquired through the open market							6,126,033	6,267,699	3,547,334
Number of shares that have been repurchased through the exercise of stock options and vesting of stock awards							357,165	398,704	489,854
Common Stock | Nalco
Shareholder's Equity
Additional shares authorized to be repurchased contingent upon merger						10,000,000
Undesignated preferred stock
Shareholder's Equity
Preferred stock, shares authorized							15,000,000
Remaining number of undesignated shares										14,600,000