REGULATORY ASSETS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	$ 2,290,000	$ 2,304,000
Period over which depreciation and salary study expenses amortized (in years)	5
Period over which Delaware rate proceedings and applications expenses amortized (in years)	2 years
Period over which Maryland rate proceedings and applications expenses amortized	five years or until the next rate increase application
Period over which goodwill amortized (in years)	50 years
Period over which Port Deposit and Cecil County deferred acquisition costs amortized (in years)	20 years
Period over which Cecil County deferred franchise costs amortized (in years)	80 years
Artesian Water contributed to its postretirement benefit plan	32,000
Postretirement benefit obligation [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	438,000	438,000
Deferred income taxes recoverable in future rates [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	472,000	476,000
Goodwill A R T N A [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	331,000	333,000
Deferred acquisition and franchise costs [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	783,000	792,000
Expense of rate and regulatory proceedings [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	$ 266,000	$ 265,000