Commitments and contingencies (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Contingencies
Employment Agreement Base Annual Salaries	$ 3.9
Number of reporting units \| item	4
Cayman Water Retail Operations, Percentage Of Revenue	33.00%	32.00%
Cayman Water Retail Operations, Percentage Of Gross Profit	47.00%	44.00%
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Amount	$ 5.1
WSC [Member]
Contingencies
Accounts Receivable, Net	21.5	$ 16.8
Payments in accounts receivable	$ 22.9

Represents the percentage of consolidated gross profit from Cayman Water retail operations.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	cwco_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of consolidated revenue from Cayman Water retail operations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cwco_CaymanWaterRetailOperationsPercentageOfRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	cwco_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cwco_CommitmentsAndContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	cwco_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the base annual salary amount, under the employment agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cwco_EmploymentAgreementBaseAnnualSalaries
Namespace Prefix:	cwco_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after allowance for credit loss, of right to consideration from customer for product sold and service rendered in normal course of business.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 954
-SubTopic 310
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123366838&loc=d3e3073-115593

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400017&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in amount due within one year (or one business cycle) from customers for the credit sale of goods and services.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123570139&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of reporting units tested for impairment of goodwill. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfReportingUnits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	srt_MajorCustomersAxis=cwco_WSCMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type: