Segment information (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 65,719,857	$ 59,367,022
Cost of revenues	38,977,570	35,368,461
Gross profit	26,742,287	23,998,561
General and administrative expenses	18,709,419	18,682,399
Loss on asset dispositions and impairments, net	56,774	3,040,158
Income (loss) from operations	7,976,094	2,276,004
Other income, net	2,740,064	1,526,358
Income before income taxes	10,716,158	3,802,362
Benefit from income taxes	(157,291)	(888,977)
Net income from continuing operations	10,873,449	4,691,339
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests	695,787	(411,489)
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders	10,177,662	5,102,828
Net income from discontinued operations	1,115,825	1,041,234
Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders	11,293,487	6,144,062
Accounts receivable, net	24,228,095	14,687,078
Property, plant and equipment, net	58,880,818	49,683,771
Construction in progress	6,015,043	1,823,284
Intangibles, net	1,891,667	3,231,667
Goodwill	8,003,568	8,003,568
Land and rights of way held for development	24,161,024	21,505,675
Assets of discontinued operations	3,904,556	4,296,049
Assets	172,515,598	165,480,895
Retail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	25,621,048	23,225,066
Cost of revenues	11,011,456	10,372,199
Gross profit	14,609,592	12,852,867
General and administrative expenses	12,029,646	11,884,659
Loss on asset dispositions and impairments, net	12,263	1,640,158
Income (loss) from operations	2,567,683	(671,950)
Accounts receivable, net	2,947,193	2,406,595
Property, plant and equipment, net	24,435,501	23,172,382
Construction in progress	5,437,093	321,368
Intangibles, net	0	0
Goodwill	1,170,511	1,170,511
Land and rights of way held for development	0	0
Assets	61,210,879	52,095,524
Bulk [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	31,031,287	28,682,113
Cost of revenues	21,551,383	19,562,503
Gross profit	9,479,904	9,119,610
General and administrative expenses	1,301,042	1,108,158
Loss on asset dispositions and impairments, net	0	0
Income (loss) from operations	8,178,862	8,011,452
Accounts receivable, net	18,480,589	9,816,852
Property, plant and equipment, net	32,820,908	24,579,526
Construction in progress	574,659	1,498,625
Intangibles, net	0	0
Goodwill	1,947,846	1,947,846
Land and rights of way held for development	0	0
Assets	67,739,059	71,489,274
Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,811,372	469,347
Cost of revenues	1,503,034	469,797
Gross profit	308,338	(450)
General and administrative expenses	2,889,703	3,043,078
Loss on asset dispositions and impairments, net	41,180	0
Income (loss) from operations	(2,622,545)	(3,043,528)
Accounts receivable, net	1,812,838	1,155,318
Property, plant and equipment, net	14,772	84,339
Construction in progress	3,291	3,291
Intangibles, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Land and rights of way held for development	24,161,024	21,505,675
Assets	27,406,983	24,488,173
Manufacturing Units [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	7,256,150	6,990,496
Cost of revenues	4,911,697	4,963,962
Gross profit	2,344,453	2,026,534
General and administrative expenses	2,489,028	2,646,504
Loss on asset dispositions and impairments, net	3,331	1,400,000
Income (loss) from operations	(147,906)	(2,019,970)
Accounts receivable, net	987,475	1,308,313
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,609,637	1,847,524
Construction in progress	0	0
Intangibles, net	1,891,667	3,231,667
Goodwill	4,885,211	4,885,211
Land and rights of way held for development	0	0
Assets	12,254,121	13,111,875
Continuing Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ 168,611,042	$ 161,184,846