Long-Term Debt Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Jun. 30, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Jul. 01, 2017 | Feb. 27, 2017 |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | $ 251,723 | $ 253,367 | | |
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities | (4,016) | (6,173) | | |
Less: Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense | (4,634) | (4,905) | | |
Long-term Debt | 251,723 | 253,367 | | |
Parent [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities | (26,436) | (27,239) | | |
Parent [Member] | Connecticut Water Service Term Loan Note and Supplement A [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 11,803 | 12,358 | | |
Parent [Member] | CoBank Term Note Payable, Due 2037 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 14,633 | 14,881 | | |
The Connecticut Water Company [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities | (198,959) | (199,060) | | |
The Connecticut Water Company [Member] | Unsecured Water Facilities Revenue Refinancing Bonds Series Issued 2004, Due 2029 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 12,500 | 12,500 | | |
The Connecticut Water Company [Member] | Unsecured Water Facilities Revenue Refinancing Bonds Series A Issued 2004 Due 2028 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 5,000 | 5,000 | | |
The Connecticut Water Company [Member] | Unsecured Water Facilities Revenue Refinancing Bonds Series B Issued 2004 Due 2028 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 4,550 | 4,550 | | |
The Connecticut Water Company [Member] | CoBank Note Payable, Due 2020 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 8,000 | 8,000 | | |
The Connecticut Water Company [Member] | CoBank Note Payable Due 2022 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 14,795 | 14,795 | | |
The Connecticut Water Company [Member] | Unsecured Water Facilities Revenue Refinancing Bonds Series A Issued 2011 Due 2021 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 22,819 | 22,920 | | |
The Connecticut Water Company [Member] | CoBank Note Payable Due 2028 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 17,020 | 17,020 | | |
The Connecticut Water Company [Member] | CoBank Note Payable Due 2032 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 14,795 | 14,795 | | |
The Connecticut Water Company [Member] | CoBank Note Payable, Due 2033 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 14,550 | 14,550 | | |
The Connecticut Water Company [Member] | CoBank Note Payable, Due 2036 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 30,000 | 30,000 | | |
The Connecticut Water Company [Member] | CoBank Note Payable, Due 2036 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 19,930 | 19,930 | | |
The Connecticut Water Company [Member] | NY LIfe Senior Note, Due September 2037 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 35,000 | 35,000 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities | (27,510) | (30,431) | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | CoBank Note Payable, Due 2026 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities | (5,000) | (5,000) | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Maine Water Company Series G [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 6,300 | 6,300 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Maine Water Company Series J [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 85 | 170 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Maine Water Company Series K [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 533 | 574 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Maine Water Company Series L [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 53 | 60 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Maine Water Company Series M [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 271 | 321 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Maine Water Company Series N [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 341 | 341 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Maine Water Company Series O [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 107 | 113 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Maine Water Company Series P [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 331 | 361 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Maine Water Company Series R [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 197 | 207 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Maine Water Company Series S [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 516 | 538 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Maine Water Company Series T [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 1,446 | 1,509 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Fair Value Adjustment of Long-Term Debt Assume [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | (120) | (51) | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | 2012 Series U, Due 2042 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 142 | 148 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | 2013 Series V, Due 2033 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 1,285 | 1,310 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | CoBank Note Payable, Due 2024 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities | (4,500) | (4,500) | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Series L, Due 2018 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 0 | 2,250 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Series N, Due 2022 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 826 | 1,026 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Series O, Due 2025 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 750 | 750 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Series P, Due 2028 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 1,234 | 1,264 | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Series Q, Due 2028 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities | (1,584) | (1,678) | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Series R, Due 2025 [Domain] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities | (2,009) | (2,009) | | |
Maine Water Company [Member] | Long Term Capital Leases [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | 0 | 2 | | |
The Heritage Village Water Company [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | | | | $ 4,642 |
The Heritage Village Water Company [Member] | CoBank Note Payable, Due 2026 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities | | (4,464) | | |
The Heritage Village Water Company [Member] | 2011 Farmington Bank Loan, Due 2034 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities | (4,382) | | | |
The Avon Water Company [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities | | | $ 3,145 | |
The Avon Water Company [Member] | Mortgage Note Payable, due 2033 [Member] | | | | |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | | | | |
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities | $ (3,206) | $ (3,302) | | |