ABOUT US

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Back in 1949, organizers of a water system in Black Hawk, SD sent a letter out to fellow community members to begin the process of establishing a water company, Black Hawk Water Company, Incorporated. The articles of incorporation were received by the members on June 6, 1949. Well construction began on the 28th day of June, 1949 on land donated by one of the members. The well began producing water one year later in July of 1950. Initial production was 750 gallons per hour, with that water being pumped into a 1,000 gallon holding tank.  By 1951 the system had installed water meters on all services. Initial rates were established at the 1949 annual meeting; $3.00 per month for commercial users and $2.00 per month for homes.  Once the system was established, it never really quit growing. By 1956, 150 accounts were served by the system. A new pump house was built and an old railroad water tower was moved in from Rochford, by truck – in one piece! 

Black Hawk Water added wells as the system grew. Between 1956 – 1963 a well was purchased from a private individual for backup purposes with another one purchased in the late 60’s to early 70’s for the same purpose. In 1986 a new well was drilled into the Madison formation which began providing water at a rate of 550 gallons per minute. The original well from 1949 has now been abandoned and a second well was constructed in the late 90’s in the Madison Aquifer to provide the system with two primary sources of water and has two wells to serve as backups.  System expansions resulted in the system supplying water outside of the Black Hawk community. Today Black Hawk Water serves the communities of Black Hawk and Summerset and also sells bulk water to the Stagebarn Subdivision and the city of Piedmont.   

In 1996, Black Hawk Water Co, Inc was dissolved as a corporation and Black Hawk Water User District was formed. Though the organizational structure of the system changed, the goal remained the same – provide the highest quality water in the area.