Well-sealing matching grant funds offered by Chisago Soil & Water Conservation District

Posted 8/23/01

Well-sealing matching grant funds offered by Chisago Soil & Water Conservation District

The Chisago County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has received grant money from the Chisago County Water plan to implement an abandoned well sealing cost share program in the county.
This program provides up to 50 percent of the project cost for sealing abandoned or used wells which qualify under terms in the grant. The matching funds may not exceed $500.
To apply: Pick up an application from the Chisago SWCD office in North Branch.
ï Obtain at least two bids on total project cost from licensed well drillers/sealers (as list of which is provided with the application materials).
ï Turn in the application with the estimates to the SWCD office.
The application will then be reviewed by the SWCD board which then sets the amount of the cost share.Note: After the well is sealed, the landowner is responsible for paying the entire bill and submitting the paid receipts to the SWCD for reimbursement.
By making this program available, the County Water Plan Policy Committee and the SWCD board of supervisors recognizes the importance of sealing abandoned wells.
Open wells provide a direct conduit into underground aquifers for contaminants such as pesticides, petroleum products and lawn fertilizers which can pose a major threat to the countyís drinking water supply.
To date, the Chisago SWCD has been able to cost share more than 80 well sealings in the county since the grantís inception in 1994.
If you are interested in this program or have any questions about it, please call the Chisago SWCD office in North Branch at (651) 674-2333. General information is also available, online, by visiting: www.chisagoswcd.org.