DEBT (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2017
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Sub-total of long-term debt	$ 103,647,000	$ 104,936,000
Less: current maturities (principal amount)	1,316,000	1,289,000
Total long-term debt	102,331,000	103,647,000
Payments of principal amounts due during the next five years and thereafter [Abstract]
2017	1,316,000
2018	26,342,000
2019	1,371,000
2020	21,401,000
2021	1,432,000
Thereafter	$ 51,785,000
Artesian Water [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate paid on the lines of credit	1.67%
First mortgage bonds [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Sub-total of long-term debt	$ 95,600,000	96,200,000
Payments of principal amounts due during the next five years and thereafter [Abstract]
2017	600,000
2018	25,600,000
2019	600,000
2020	20,600,000
2021	600,000
Thereafter	47,600,000
First mortgage bonds [Member] | Series O, 8.17%, due 12/29/2020 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Sub-total of long-term debt	20,000,000	20,000,000
First mortgage bonds [Member] | Series P, 6.58%, due 01/31/2018 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Sub-total of long-term debt	25,000,000	25,000,000
First mortgage bonds [Member] | Series Q, 4.75%, due 12/01/2043 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Sub-total of long-term debt	15,400,000	15,400,000
First mortgage bonds [Member] | Series R, 5.96%, due 12/31/2028 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Sub-total of long-term debt	25,000,000	25,000,000
First mortgage bonds [Member] | Series S, 6.73%, due 12/31/2033 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Sub-total of long-term debt	10,200,000	10,800,000
First mortgage bonds [Member] | Series T, due 12/20/2036 [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Sub-total of long-term debt				$ 40,000,000
State revolving fund loans [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Sub-total of long-term debt	8,047,000	8,736,000
Payments of principal amounts due during the next five years and thereafter [Abstract]
2017	716,000
2018	742,000
2019	771,000
2020	801,000
2021	832,000
Thereafter	4,185,000
State revolving fund loans [Member] | 4.48%, due 08/01/2021 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Sub-total of long-term debt	1,456,000	1,711,000
State revolving fund loans [Member] | 3.57%, due 09/01/2023 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Sub-total of long-term debt	640,000	719,000
State revolving fund loans [Member] | 3.64%, due 05/01/2025 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Sub-total of long-term debt	1,142,000	1,255,000
State revolving fund loans [Member] | 3.41%, due 02/01/2031 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Sub-total of long-term debt	2,448,000	2,576,000
State revolving fund loans [Member] | 3.40%, due 07/01/2032 [Member]
Long-term debt consists of [Abstract]
Sub-total of long-term debt	2,361,000	2,475,000
Citizens Bank [Member] | Artesian Resources [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit	40,000,000
Available funds under this line of credit	$ 36,400,000
Expiration date of line of credit	May 26, 2017
Citizens Bank [Member] | LIBOR [Member] | Artesian Resources [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Variable rate for credit facility	LIBOR
Variable rate of credit facility	1.00%
CoBank [Member] | Artesian Resources [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit	$ 20,000,000
Available funds under this line of credit	$ 16,500,000
CoBank [Member] | Artesian Water [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Expiration date of line of credit	Jul. 20, 2017
Patronage refunds	$ 702,000	$ 689,000	$ 682,000
Annual patronage refund rate	1.00%
CoBank [Member] | Artesian Water Maryland [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit	$ 10,000,000
CoBank [Member] | LIBOR [Member] | Artesian Water [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Variable rate for credit facility	LIBOR
Variable rate of credit facility	1.50%