Earnings per share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. Common stockholders	$ 1,921,261	$ 654,909
Less: preferred stock dividends	(2,763)	(2,806)
Net income available to common shares in the determination of basic earnings per common share	$ 1,918,498	$ 652,103
Weighted average number of common shares in the determination of basic earnings per common share attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. common stockholders (in shares)	14,718,757	14,686,744
Weighted average number of preferred shares outstanding during the period (in shares)	36,840	37,408
Potential dilutive effect of unexercised options (in shares)	8,572	42,833
Weighted average number of shares used for determining diluted earnings per common share attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. common stockholders (in shares)	14,764,169	14,766,985