Capitalization (Details Narrative) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended							1 Months Ended					12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2013 Series DD	Dec. 31, 2012 Series S - W	May 31, 2012 New Jersey State Revolving Fund	May 31, 2012 OOMember	May 31, 2012 PPMember	Dec. 31, 2013 Delaware State Revolving Fund	Dec. 31, 2013 New Jersey Economic Development Authority	Dec. 31, 2013 New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust	Dec. 31, 2012 Series QQ	May 31, 2013 New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust	May 31, 2013 New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust First Mortgage Bonds - Series TT	May 31, 2013 New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust First Mortgage Bonds - Series UU	Mar. 31, 2011 Tidewater Delaware State Revolving Fund	Mar. 31, 2011 Southern Shores Delaware State Revolving Fund	Dec. 31, 2013 Southern Shores Delaware State Revolving Fund	Dec. 31, 2013 Nonredeemable Preferred Stock $7.00 Series	Dec. 31, 2013 Convertible Preferred Stock $7.00 Series	Aug. 31, 2013 Convertible Preferred Stock $8.00 Series	Dec. 31, 2013 Convertible Preferred Stock $8.00 Series	Dec. 31, 2013 Outside Director Stock Compensation Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Outside Director Stock Compensation Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Outside Director Stock Compensation Plan	Dec. 31, 2013 Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan
Schedule of Capitalization [Line Items]
Common Stock, Shares Authorized																											$ 2,300,000
Authorized shares under plan		300,000																						81,997
Dividend Reinvestment & Common Stock Purchase Plan, cumulative shares																											2,200,000
Common stock granted and issued under plan																								5,432	5,768	3,833
Issuance of shares under the DRP		1,653	1,587	1,504
Maximum number of shares authorized for grant		200,000																						100,000
Preferred stock dividends in arrears		0
Shares repurchased in the period,shares																				93
Shares repurchased in the period																				9
Shares issued upon conversion																							13.714
Convertible preferred stock converted, value																						500
Convertible preferred stock converted, shares																						4,000
Stock issued upon conversion of convertible preferred stock (shares)																						54,856
Long-term debt		133,112	140,361							2,700	55,400	9,700		3,900	2,900	1,000			1,400
Percentage of stock that may be redeemed in a given calander year																					10.00%
Repayment of first mortgage bonds	57,500				51,500	6,000
Long term debt, face amount							3,900	3,000	900								2,800	1,600
Premium on debt		2,072	2,236										2,200
Interest rate								0.00%							0.00%		3.75%	3.75%
Interest rate, minimum									2.00%							3.00%
Interest rate, maximum									5.00%							3.25%
Maturity date								Aug. 01, 2031	Aug. 01, 2031						Aug. 01, 2032	Aug. 01, 2032	Jul. 01, 2031	Nov. 30, 2030
Weighted average interest rate		4.23%	4.34%
Deobligated principal payments		64	255	560
Other long term debt		45,000	47,700
Customer advances		$ 21,837	$ 21,990