Legal Proceedings	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Legal Proceedings [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	Legal Proceedings SJW Corp. is subject to ordinary routine litigation incidental to its business. There are no pending legal proceedings to which SJW Corp. or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or to which any of its properties is the subject, that are expected to have a material effect on SJW Corp.’s business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows. On November 20, 2009, 55 Partners, LLC (“Plaintiff”) filed a lawsuit against San Jose Water Company in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Santa Clara (55 Partners LLC v San Jose Water Company, Case No. 109 CV 157824). The lawsuit alleged that a water main operated by San Jose Water Company had encroached upon the Plaintiff’s commercial property located in Los Gatos, California, and that the Plaintiff suffered damages following a rupture of the water main caused by the Plaintiff’s construction work in a development project. The lawsuit sought to recover damages in lost rental revenue to the Plaintiff’s development project, lost revenue to the Plaintiff’s motel operation on the property, and other opportunity costs and expenses. The trial commenced on April 27, 2011. On June 17, 2011, the Court found that the water main had been placed several feet onto Plaintiff's property, and ordered it removed, but found that there were no damages to Plaintiff's development project, motel operation or that Plaintiff had suffered any other damage. The parties stipulated to waive all rights to appeal the decision.

Legal Proceedings

SJW Corp. is subject to ordinary routine litigation incidental to its business. There are no pending legal proceedings to which SJW Corp. or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or to which any of its properties is the subject, that are expected to have a material effect on SJW Corp.’s business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

On November 20, 2009, 55 Partners, LLC (“Plaintiff”) filed a lawsuit against San Jose Water Company in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Santa Clara (55 Partners LLC v San Jose Water Company, Case No. 109 CV 157824). The lawsuit alleged that a water main operated by San Jose Water Company had encroached upon the Plaintiff’s commercial property located in Los Gatos, California, and that the Plaintiff suffered damages following a rupture of the water main caused by the Plaintiff’s construction work in a development project. The lawsuit sought to recover damages in lost rental revenue to the Plaintiff’s development project, lost revenue to the Plaintiff’s motel operation on the property, and other opportunity costs and expenses. The trial commenced on April 27, 2011. On June 17, 2011, the Court found that the water main had been placed several feet onto Plaintiff's property, and ordered it removed, but found that there were no damages to Plaintiff's development project, motel operation or that Plaintiff had suffered any other damage. The parties stipulated to waive all rights to appeal the decision.