Jasper County Health Department has a grant program through June 30 that may provide cost share reimbursement to help pay some of the cost associated with plugging your abandoned water supply well or cistern.
“I am always willing to come and do a free evaluation on any wells under no obligation. It is critical that we try to get abandoned wells plugged for the safety of the community,” Kevin Luetters, environmental health director at Jasper County Health Department said.
Unneeded, unwanted and abandoned water wells are a hazard to drinking water supplies and pose a real safety hazard to people, animals and equipment or vehicles. Each year in our country, a number of individuals are injured or killed due to falling into old, forgotten wells. It is the responsibility of every property owner to ensure that their properties do not have any wells that pose a hazard to person or groundwater.
The definition for “abandoned well” states that any water supply well that is no longer in use, or is in such poor physical condition that it cannot be repaired and safely used” is classified as abandoned. Abandoned wells must be plugged or properly improved to eliminate the risk to the groundwater.
Performing the proper well services on abandoned wells is one thing that every property owner can do to protect the safety of their property and protect our valuable groundwater resource. Well plugging is done by removing the pumping system, filling a well with fill and sealing materials and removal of the upper 4 feet of well casing. Once a well is properly plugged, there should be no further well safety issues or future threat to groundwater.
If you would like a free assessment on an abandoned well or would like more information on this grant for abandoned wells and cisterns, please call the Jasper County Health Department at 641-792-7603.