CROW WING COUNTY — Crow Wing County received grant funding of $30,000 from the Clean Water Fund to help landowners seal unused wells in Crow Wing County and the Pine River Watershed.
A well that is not in use or abandoned can be a source of groundwater contamination by providing a potential direct path for surface water runoff, contaminated water or improperly disposed of waste to reach an uncontaminated groundwater source. Unused larger-diameter wells can also be a safety hazard for children and animals.
“Sealing unused wells is one of the most important practices that can be done to protect groundwater resources in Crow Wing County,” Environmental Services Coordinator Nicole Erickson said in a news release.
For the first time, Crow Wing County plans to use a ranking criterion to seal unused / abandon wells.
- 90% cost sharing will be allowed for sealed wells located within the Pine River Watershed in surficial sand aquifers.
- 75% cost sharing for wells located within surficial sand aquifers outside the Pine River Watershed.
- 50% cost sharing for all other wells in Crow Wing County or within the Pine River Watershed.
The county will provide up to a maximum of $1,000 in cost-share funds per well. A state licensed well contractor must conduct the work. Sealing involves clearing the well of debris and filling the well with grout. Citizens are encouraged to contact a licensed well driller to begin the application process.
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For more information on this grant, visit www.crowwing.us/242/grants.
Groundwater protection is identified as a priority in the Crow Wing County Water Plan and Pine River One Watershed, One Plan, and most of the Crow Wing County’s residents rely on groundwater for their source of drinking water. A total of 272 wells have been sealed in Crow Wing County from previous grants the county received.
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