Accounting policies - Disaggregated revenue (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Total Revenue	$ 66,863,502	$ 72,628,126
Contracts in progress
Number of days after consumption billings are considered past due	45 days
Bahamas [Member]
Total Revenue	$ 24,031,547	21,654,153
Bahamas [Member] | Consolidated Water Bahamas [Member]
Total Revenue		$ 127,000
Minimum [Member]
Contracts in progress
Number of days after consumption billings are collected	30 days
Maximum [Member]
Contracts in progress
Number of days after consumption billings are collected	45 days
Percentage Of Bad Debts		1.00%	1.00%
Retail revenue [Member]
Total Revenue	$ 22,104,953	$ 22,952,370
Bulk revenue [Member]
Total Revenue	26,800,869	24,312,546
Services revenue [Member]
Total Revenue	13,884,857	12,937,859
Manufacturing revenue [Member]
Total Revenue	$ 4,072,823	$ 12,425,351