Blackwood Drilling has been a family owned and operated business since 1943. Extensive experience in the business assures that trained professionals utilizing the latest industry standards will complete your water.

The company has three certified Journeyman Water Well Drillers licensed by Alberta Department of Environment. We have apprentice water well drillers who work under direct supervision of a certified driller. The apprentice drillers upon completion of their training will continue to provide Blackwood Drilling and their customers with superior expertise in water well completions.

Alberta Environment sets the standards, to which Blackwood Drilling professionals are governed, regulated by and completes water wells.

Blackwood Drilling Ltd. is a member of:

• Alberta Water Well Drillers Association
• Canadian Groundwater Association
• International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA)

OUR HISTORY

It all started with a rabbit in the early 1940's. We had a had dug water well on our property that was likely fifteen feet deep with wooden cribbing that was typical for the rural farms in those days. The first small home on my grandfather Alexander Scott Blackwood's property was moved to a second location and an addition for it was constructed. The water well was used for the home water supply and also as cold storage for milk and cream. Refrigerator was none existent on the farm in those days.

One day during late 1943 or early 1944, my father, Alex Blackwood went to draw water for the house and found a drowned rabbit in the well. The rabbit had burrowed down along the side of the well and chewed through the wooden cribbing, fell into the water and drowned. It was at this time my father decided he had to have a drilled water well. Two of my father's closest friends and farm neighbors also required water wells. Jim Suitor, George Sutherland and Alex Blackwood pooled their resources and purchased a used cable tool rig from Gerald Newman of the Gladys Ridge area. After the three farmers had drilled wells on their respective farms the drilling rig was sold. During the winter of 1945, Alex Blackwood constructed his own cable tool rig and began drilling wells for other farmers in the area. This was the beginning of Blackwood Drilling as a commercial entity.

I recall as a teenager growing up in this family business, I was expected to help my father and learn the skills and become a water well driller. In 1956 I was sent out alone to drill my first well. The water well was drilled, cased and a pump installed without outside assistance. The pump operated successfully for over thirty years before it had to be replaced. My father (Alex), and I continued to drill wells and install pumps until 1960 when I purchased a rotary drilling rig and ventured out on my own. In 1963 I left the water well drilling industry for other ventures throughout North, Central and South America.

In 1987 a decision was made to return to the water well drilling business. Rules and regulations regarding this industry had changed somewhat and the journeyman water well driller examinations for licensing were challenged and passed. An air rotary drilling rig was purchased and Blackwood Drilling Ltd. came into existence. We currently operate one air rotary drilling rig and offer full water well service. Our services include drilling, well flow testing, well cleaning and remediation, water testing, sales and installation of water treating and pumping equipment.

By the summer of 2004, we will have a second drilling rig operational. The main purpose of the second rig is for geothermal wells along with the regular water wells. Our staff is geothermal certified for the installation of loops. The certification includes fusion welders and water furnace repair technicians.