Restructuring (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) position	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) position	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges			$ 204	$ 0	$ 862	$ 0
Ka-te [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Period of trademark license		5 years
Video Injection - Instituform SAS [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Period of trademark license	5 years
Insituform Linings Ltd. [Member] | Ka-te [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Term of exclusive tube supply agreement		5 years
Insituform Linings Ltd. [Member] | Video Injection - Instituform SAS [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Term of exclusive tube supply agreement	5 years
Restructuring Plan 2014 [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of terminations since inception of restructuring plan | position			85		85
Number of terminations during period | position					54
Restructuring charges					$ 9,232
Total pre-tax restructuring charges to date			$ 58,700		58,700
Total restructuring charges to date, net of tax			43,800		43,800
Estimated remaining restructuring costs to be incurred in 2015			2,000		2,000
Restructuring Plan 2014 [Member] | Non-cash restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total pre-tax restructuring charges to date			47,900		47,900
Restructuring Plan 2014 [Member] | Non-cash restructuring [Member] | Corrosion Protection [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total pre-tax restructuring charges to date			22,200		22,200
Restructuring Plan 2014 [Member] | Non-cash restructuring [Member] | Infrastructure Solutions [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total pre-tax restructuring charges to date			25,700		25,700
Restructuring Plan 2014 [Member] | Cash restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total pre-tax restructuring charges to date			$ 10,800		10,800
Restructuring Plan 2014 [Member] | Severance and benefit costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges					694
Restructuring Plan 2014 [Member] | Other restructuring costs [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring charges					$ 6,259