Investment in OC-BVI (Details 1) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Equity investment (including profit sharing rights)	$ 6,342,459	$ 6,634,598

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee including loan receivable.

No definition available.

Name:	cwco_EquityMethodInvestmentsIncludingLoanReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	cwco_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant