Well Management
Sealing Unused Wells
Protecting the Groundwater is Everybody's Business
On this page:
What is an unused well -- and why is
it a problem?
How do unused wells threaten the groundwater?
Do unused wells pose any other problems?
What does the law require?
How can I find out if I have a well on my property that
is not in use and not sealed?
What does a well look like?
How are wells sealed?
How much does it cost?
What if I have an old well on my property and I only
use it for watering my yard or garden -- do I have to seal it?
Where can I get more information?
A well that is not in use - sometimes referred to an "abandoned" well
- can be a potential threat to health, safety, and the environment. Wells
that are no longer used may be buried or forgotten. Often they have not
been sealed properly. Sealing is the process of clearing an unused well
of debris and filling the well with a special material called grout.
The sealing must be done by a licensed contractor.
Unused wells that have not been properly sealed can be a source of groundwater
contamination, potentially affecting nearby drinking water wells. They
may threaten the quality of the water in city water wells, your neighbor's
well, or even your own well. Groundwater is the main source of drinking
water for three out of every four Minnesotans. Protecting groundwater
is everybody's business.
As a well ages, the casing may rust, joints may leak, the pump may become
stuck in the well, or the well may fill with debris. If the well is covered
with boards or concrete, the cover will eventually decay and break
open. Surface water runoff, debris, and other contaminants can then enter
the well.
A well may be taken out of service for a variety of reasons. It may
no longer provide enough water. It may not have been repaired when it
needed to be. It may have become contaminated. A well may be "lost" or
abandoned when property changes hands, or when use of the land changes
from agricultural to industrial or residential. Old, unused wells are
easily forgotten.
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Groundwater is found in underground geologic formations called aquifers.
The layers of rock and soil that lie between an aquifer and
the surface, or between aquifers, typically act as natural barriers against
the spread of contamination. However, an unused, unsealed well can provide
an open channel between the surface and an aquifer - or between a shallow
aquifer and a deeper aquifer. An unused well can act as a drain - allowing
surface water runoff, contaminated water, or improperly disposed waste
to reach an uncontaminated aquifer.
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If unsealed large-diameter wells are not covered or otherwise protected,
the open well hole can be a safety hazard, especially for children and
animals.
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By law, a well must be in use, be under a maintenance permit, or be sealed
by a licensed contractor. A well must be sealed if:
- the well is not in use,
- the well is contaminated,
- the well has been improperly sealed in the past,
- the well threatens the quality of the groundwater, or
- the well otherwise poses a threat to health or safety.
If you have an unused well - and wish to keep the well for future use
- you must apply for a special "maintenance permit" from the
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The permit requires an annual fee, and
is only issued if the well meets minimum sanitary requirements.
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Whether you live in the country or in town, you could have one or more
wells on your property which are not in use and not sealed. If you live
in town, there may be one or more wells that were used before the city
water became available, or a well that was used for watering lawns and
gardens. If you live in the country, wells may have served current or
former houses and barns. To locate old wells, it may help to:
- Find out when your home was built and when public water was first available
in your area. If the house was built before public water was available,
there was likely a well on your property.
- Look for any physical evidence of a well on your property - a well
casing, pipe, or water pump; water pipes which may indicate the presence
of a well; a small room, often in the basement, that may have housed
a well; a small building located away from the house; a windmill or
water pump; or a depression in the yard.
- Consult former owners of your property, or people who have lived
in the area for a long time. They may remember the locations of old
wells.
- Ask well drillers about old wells that they may have constructed
or repaired.
- Look at old photos of your property - they may show windmills, houses,
barns, or outbuildings where a well may have been located.
- Consult city and county records of building and land use permits.
- Consult city and county historical documents - they may also provide
information about development and land use.
- Look at the old fire insurance drawings often available at local
historical societies - they may also record the location of wells.
- Consult the well disclosure certificate available from the MDH - required for all property transfers in Minnesota
since November 1, 1990 - to obtain specific information about the location
and status of wells on your property. Minnesota laws require any owner
of property which is sold or transferred to disclose to the buyer the
status of all wells on the property.
- See also: Finding Lost Wells.
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You can often see the casing of an unused well sticking up out of the
ground. Look for a metal pipe typically from 1¼ inches to 6 inches in diameter.
Wells that were dug rather than drilled may appear as a ring - made of
concrete, tile, bricks, or rocks - in the ground or pit. The ring could
be anywhere from 12 inches to 36 inches in diameter, or even larger. A
windmill, an old shed that was used as a well house, or an old pump may
mark the location of a well. A metal or concrete cover or manhole may
mark the location of a well pit. A depression in the ground may indicate
a buried well, and a wet area may be caused by a flowing well that hasn't
been sealed.
If you had a well inside your home, a pipe sticking up out of the floor
- possibly stuffed with rags - could be a well casing. Wells were often
housed in a "basement offset" - a small room attached to the basement often
located under exterior concrete steps. A glass block fitted into a step
- or a concrete patch - could be another clue.
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State law requires that well sealing be done by a licensed well contractor.
Don't try to do it yourself.
A licensed well contractor has the necessary equipment and expertise
to seal your well properly. The contractor can also handle all the
necessary paperwork. To find a contractor, look in the Yellow Pages under "Well
Drilling and Service." The MDH also has
a list of licensed contractors.
Before sealing the well, the contractor will remove any pumping equipment
that may still be in place and remove any debris or other obstructions
from the well. The well is then sealed by pumping a grout mixture into
the well.
When the job is done, the contractor will submit a well and boring sealing record to
the MDH. You will also get a copy of the well
and boring sealing record from the licensed well contractor. Keep it in a safe place.
It provides proof that the well has been properly sealed, and no longer
poses a hazard.
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The cost of sealing a well can vary considerably. For shallow, small
diameter wells - like those found at some homes and many lake cabins
- the cost typically ranges from $300 to $600. Deeper larger wells will
cost more to seal. Things like access to the well, special geological
conditions, debris in the well, and depth and diameter of the well will
affect the cost of well sealing. Also, if a contractor is already on
the site drilling a new well, the cost of sealing an old well will often
be less because a special trip to the site is avoided. The same is true
when people get together and arrange to have a number of old wells in
a community sealed at same time. It is always a good idea to get several
estimates on costs. See also: cost
share grants and low cost loans.
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Minnesota laws do not require a well which is in use to be sealed unless
it is causing, or has the potential to cause, a health problem or contamination
of the groundwater. Your well is considered to be "in use" if
you use it on a regular basis. If you sell or transfer the property, the
well will have to be disclosed to the buyer at that time.
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If you have any questions about wells or well water quality in Minnesota, contact your local Minnesota Department of Health office and ask to talk with a well specialist or contact the Well Management Section Central Office at health.wells@state.mn.us or at 651-201-4600 or 800-383-9808. Deaf and hard-of-hearing: TTY 651-201-5797.
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