Earnings per share (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders	$ 2,054,641	$ 1,921,261
Less: preferred stock dividends	(2,850)	(2,763)
Net income available to common shares in the determination of basic earnings per common share	$ 2,051,791	$ 1,918,498
Weighted average number of common shares in the determination of basic earnings per common share attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. common stockholders Plus:	14,783,380	14,718,757
Weighted average number of preferred shares outstanding during the period	38,584	36,840
Potential dilutive effect of unexercised options	42,161	8,572
Weighted average number of shares used for determining diluted earnings per common share attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. common stockholders	14,864,125	14,764,169