As more and more communities move towards public water systems, tens of thousands of old wells throughout the state have been abandoned.
Though old windmills and pump houses make some abandonded wells easy to spot, many are hidden beneath grass, brush, or collapsed buildings. These hidden holes can lead to personal injury or equipment damage. Worse yet, many hand-dug or bored wells are large enough to trap an unsuspecting child or pet.
Abandoned wells also threaten the quality of our drinking water. Missing or defective well caps and leaky casings allow bacteria and chemical contaminants to enter abandoned wells. Once inside, these contaminants can seep into the aquifer below and move laterally into active wells nearby.
If you have an abandoned well on your property, by law, you are required to have it plugged. Fortunately there is money available to assist with this. The Lee County Environmental Health will pay up to $200 to help plug your well. Contact them at 319-372-5227, they will visit your property to assess your well and provide you with further information on how to proceed.
Lori Meierotto
11/11/2006