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sealing unused <br />wells <br />unused WELLSMinnesota homeowners guide to sealing <br />Every unused well that is <br />not properly sealed poses a <br /> safety, health, and <br />environmental threat to <br />your family and community as <br />well as a potential legal risk <br />to the homeowner. <br />Wherever you live in Minnesota – northwoods, farm country, <br />small town, or big city – you could have one or more wells on <br />your property. A well may have been your home’s main water <br />source before city water became available, or it was installed to <br />serve secondary buildings and barns, or used to water lawns or <br />gardens. <br />The reality is . . . wells do not last forever. <br />Wells are no longer used for a variety of reasons: <br />• Not enough water. <br />• Needed repairs. <br />• Became contaminated. <br />• Simply “lost” or abandoned when property changed hands. <br />• Land use changed. <br />• Connected to a community water system. <br />Physical Safety <br />Children and small animals can easily <br />fall into an unprotected, open well. <br />Also, accidents can occur when <br />equipment is unsuspectingly driven <br />over a crumbling well or well pit. <br />Health & Environment <br />An unused well can act like a drain, allowing surface <br />water runoff, contaminated water, or improperly <br />disposed waste a direct pathway into drinking water <br />sources. When this occurs, the quality of everyone’s <br />water is threatened – city water wells, neighbor’s wells, <br />even your current well. Therefore, it is recommended <br />that homeowners test their water annually. For more <br />information, visit: Owner’s Guide to Wells (www. <br />health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/ <br />waterquality/test.html). <br />Legal Responsibilities <br />Consider the responsibility and liability issues if an old <br />well on your property is proved to be a conduit for <br />contaminants that reach a drinking water source for <br />neighbors or your city. Selling your property? You are <br />required to provide a well disclosure statement to the buyer <br />before a purchase agreement is signed. The statement <br />indicates the location, number of wells, and if the well is <br />being used or not. For well disclosure information, visit: <br />What You Should Know About Wells at Property <br />Transfer (www.health.state.mn.us/ <br />divs/eh/wells/disclosures/ <br />wellsatpropertytransfer.html). <br />information Wells and Water <br />Online <br />For information on wells or private drinking water, <br />visit our website: Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) <br />Well Management Program, Wells and Borings (www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells) <br />For resources or questions specific to well sealing, visit: <br />Sealing of Wells and Borings <br />(www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/sealing) <br />Email <br />Email the section directly at: <br />health.wells@state.mn.us <br />1 <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />Bemidji <br />Duluth <br />Fergus Falls <br />St. Cloud <br />St. Paul <br />Marshall <br />Rochester <br />Who to Call <br />For an area well specialist, <br />contact the MDH <br />office nearest you.1 <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />Bemidji <br />Duluth <br />Fergus Falls <br />St. Cloud <br />St. Paul <br />Marshall <br />Rochester <br />MAIN OFFICE <br />651-201-4600 <br />800-383-9808 <br />625 North Robert Street <br />P. O. Box 64975 <br />St. Paul, MN 55164-0975 <br />BEMIDJI <br />218-308-2100 <br />705 Fifth Street Northwest <br />Bemidji, MN 56601 <br />DULUTH <br />218-302-6166 <br />Duluth Technology Village <br />11 East Superior Street <br />Duluth, MN 55802 <br />FERGUS FALLS <br />218-332-5150 <br />1505 Pebble Lake Road <br />Fergus Falls, MN 56537 <br />1 <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br /> MDH offices <br />1 <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />Bemidji <br />Duluth <br />Fergus Falls <br />St. Cloud <br />St. Paul <br />Marshall <br />Rochester <br />ST. CLOUD <br />320-223-7300 <br />3333 West Division Street <br />St. Cloud, MN 56301 <br />MARSHALL <br />507-476-4220 <br />1400 East Lyon Street <br />Marshall, MN 56258 <br />ROCHESTER <br />507-206-2700 <br />18 Wood Lake Drive Southeast <br />Rochester, MN 55904 <br />To request this document in another format, call 651-201-4600. <br /> origs\brochures\sealing unused wells 07/24/2018R <br />Printed on recycled paper. <br />99