Segment information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues	$ 65,450,702	$ 55,154,492	$ 50,708,554
Cost of revenues	43,458,260	36,132,425	34,098,059
Gross profit	21,992,442	19,022,067	16,610,495
General and administrative expenses	14,542,817	13,651,650	11,329,648
Impairment losses	521,444	0	0
Income (loss) from operations	6,928,181	5,370,417	5,280,847
Other income (expense), net	2,695,828	1,181,563	1,162,315
Consolidated net income	9,624,009	6,551,980	6,443,162
Income attributable to non-controlling interests	308,495	438,762	151,137
Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. Stockholders	9,315,514	6,113,218	6,292,025
Property plant and equipment, net	58,993,406	64,185,110	55,923,731
Construction in progress	2,612,800	141,204	249,300
Goodwill	3,499,037	3,587,754	3,587,754
Total assets	150,449,086	160,859,431	152,201,566
Retail [Member]
Revenues	24,222,895	23,356,338	21,864,252
Cost of revenues	11,548,255	11,496,598	10,361,302
Gross profit	12,674,640	11,859,740	11,502,950
General and administrative expenses	11,304,528	9,102,291	8,105,740
Impairment losses	0
Income (loss) from operations	1,370,112	2,757,449	3,397,210
Property plant and equipment, net	24,021,301	25,456,103	26,426,273
Construction in progress	2,342,248	141,204	249,300
Goodwill	1,170,511	1,170,511	1,170,511
Total assets	63,649,696	73,557,410	77,481,333
Bulk [Member]
Revenues	40,758,182	30,757,874	25,302,093
Cost of revenues	31,679,887	24,127,488	20,907,981
Gross profit	9,078,295	6,630,386	4,394,112
General and administrative expenses	1,384,527	1,285,121	1,247,076
Impairment losses	432,727
Income (loss) from operations	7,261,041	5,345,265	3,147,036
Property plant and equipment, net	34,308,805	37,824,507	28,350,519
Construction in progress	270,552	0	0
Goodwill	2,328,526	2,328,526	2,328,526
Total assets	83,177,550	83,457,607	69,343,561
Services [Member]
Revenues	469,625	1,040,280	3,542,209
Cost of revenues	230,118	508,339	2,828,776
Gross profit	239,507	531,941	713,433
General and administrative expenses	1,853,762	3,264,238	1,976,832
Impairment losses	88,717
Income (loss) from operations	(1,702,972)	(2,732,297)	(1,263,399)
Property plant and equipment, net	663,300	904,500	1,146,939
Construction in progress	0	0	0
Goodwill	0	88,717	88,717
Total assets	$ 3,621,840	$ 3,844,414	$ 5,376,672