Abandoned water wells pollute water resources.
Wells supply drinking water to people, animals and agriculture. Wells can be abandoned or fail due to neglect. Old, hand-dug wells, once very common throughout Minnesota, include large corroded concrete covers that create a potential hazard. Newer drilled wells may fail due to lack of water, corroded casings or may be a conduit for surface pollution to reach groundwater. The Minnesota Department of Health requires wells to be sealed if they are abandoned, contaminated or pose a health hazard. Minnesota state law requires wells to be sealed by a licensed well contractor. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Check old property records. Private and public property records contain valuable information regarding active and abandoned wells.
2. Check the property for signs of abandoned wells. Old pumping equipment and sunken areas can be signs an abandoned well is present.
3. Schedule an estimate to be made by a state-licensed well contractor. The well contractor will clean the water well of debris and then add a grout to seal the well from bottom to top.
4. Research cost-sharing grants and low-cost loans for financial help when sealing a well. Because abandoned wells can cause injury or lead to pollution, counties in Minnesota may offer cost-sharing grants that will pay for part of the cost of sealing the well.
5. Schedule the well to be sealed by the licensed well contractor. The well contractor will submit records on the well owner's behalf to the Minnesota Department of Health stating that the well has been properly sealed.
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