CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 2,777,313	$ 7,925,494	$ 6,764,540
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	7,241,915	5,657,580	5,524,359
Amortization of other assets	179,353	179,353	179,353
Amortization of prepaid land lease	19,241	23,014	25,968
Amortization of debt issuance costs	41,672	125,016	170,289
Deferred income tax benefit	(536,057)	0	0
Provision for doubtful accounts	42,553	0	0
Unrealized loss on put/call option	297,000	0	0
Compensation expense relating to stock and stock option grants	521,019	407,668	202,454
Net loss (gain) on disposal of fixed assets	(314,381)	32,566	77,495
Foreign currency transaction adjustment	(172,130)	420,641	107,839
Profit sharing and equity in earnings of OC-BVI	(463,359)	(399,668)	(414,755)
Impairment loss on long-lived assets	2,000,000	0	0
Impairment of goodwill	1,750,000	0	0
Impairment of investment in OC-BVI	925,000	1,060,000	860,000
Change in:
Accounts receivable and costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	(5,910,009)	3,402,728	5,988,523
Inventory	(622,724)	(732,588)	(566,928)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	185,401	276,116	423,893
Accounts payable and other liabilities and billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings - construction project	(138,455)	(1,058,134)	(1,158,169)
Net cash provided by operating activities	7,823,352	17,319,786	18,184,861
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of certificate of deposit	0	(5,637,538)	(5,000,000)
Maturity of certificate of deposit	5,637,538	5,000,000	0
Additions to property, plant and equipment and construction in progress	(3,462,150)	(3,113,565)	(3,626,278)
Proceeds from sale of equipment	547,332	10,160	13,620
Distribution of earnings from OC-BVI	0	0	969,600
Acquisition of Aerex, net of cash acquired	(7,742,853)	0	0
Collections on loans receivable	1,841,851	1,726,310	1,691,102
Sale of marketable securities	0	0	8,587,475
Payment for land held for development	0	0	(7,382,858)
Payment of land purchase obligation	0	0	(10,050,000)
Release/(restriction) of cash balance	398,744	(42,716)	(456,083)
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,779,538)	(2,057,349)	(15,253,422)
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid to CWCO common shareholders	(4,433,539)	(4,417,534)	(4,407,249)
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests	(182,663)	(201,473)	(164,396)
Dividends paid to CWCO preferred shareholders	(11,831)	(11,881)	(11,528)
Repurchase of redeemable preferred stock	(14,054)	(6,014)	(13,077)
Proceeds received from exercise of stock options	568,849	456,763	52,551
Issuance of note payable to related party	490,000	0	0
Principal repayments of long term debt	0	0	(5,301,327)
Proceeds received from demand loan payable	0	0	10,000,000
Repayments of demand loan payable	(7,000,000)	(2,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Net cash used in financing activities	(10,583,238)	(6,180,139)	(845,026)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	806	(3,253)	760
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(5,538,618)	9,079,045	2,087,173
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	44,792,734	35,713,689	33,626,516
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 39,254,116	$ 44,792,734	$ 35,713,689