Sealing abandoned water well helps protect drinking water

Although the total number of abandoned wells in Illinois is unknown, estimates range from 50,000 to 150,000. Every year, many wells are abandoned when they are replaced with new wells or when homes are connected to community water systems. Abandoned wells pose an immediate threat to human safety and provide a direct route for contaminants to pollute a water supply. This is a hazard that affects both urban and rural residents.

George Czapar

The risk of accidents for humans or domestic animals is greatest with large-diameter or dug wells, but any abandoned or unused well poses a threat to ground-water quality. The upper layers of soil normally act as a filter that effectively removes contaminants. Abandoned wells allow pollutants to bypass this filtering process and provide a direct path from land surface to groundwater.

What if there is an abandoned well on your land, but you are not sure of the exact location? Since abandoned wells are not always clearly visible, it may be necessary to contact former property owners or neighbors who might remember well locations. In addition, local well drillers often have site records of previous installations. If old photos are available, they may show windmills, houses, barns or other buildings that have since been torn down, but where wells might be located. Finally, the Illinois State Water Survey maintains a database of well records. Their groundwater information office can be reached at (217)333-9043.

Sealing an abandoned well is generally not an expensive process but it must be done correctly, preferably by a licensed groundwater professional. Homeowners do have the right to seal their own wells, as long as they accept all responsibility for sealing the well in compliance with the Illinois Well Construction Code and all pertinent county codes.

Before beginning any work you must report the project to the local public health department and have a well sealing plan approved. The Illinois Department of Public Health has a list of well sealing requirements and approved fill materials. After the work is done, you must complete a sealing report and submit it within 30 days.

Information on well sealing is also contained in a recent publication from University of Illinois Extension. A fact sheet titled, Sealing an Abandoned Well is available from your local extension office.

Finally, the Illinois Water Well Sealing Coalition is a broad group of agencies and organizations working to promote abandoned well sealing efforts statewide. Protecting water quality is everyone's responsibility, and the best safeguard against ground-water contamination from abandoned wells is to properly seal them.

For more information
More detailed information can be found in the Illinois Well Construction Code, which can be obtained from local health departments or from one of the regional offices listed below.

Rockford Region
4302 N. Main
St. Rockford, IL 61103
815-987-7511

Peoria Region
5415 N. University
Peoria, IL 61614
309-693-5360

Champaign Region
2125 S. First St.
Champaign, IL 61820
217-333-6914

Edwardsville Region
#22 Kettle River Drive
Edwardsville, EL 61025
618-656-6680

West Chicago Region
245 W. Roosevelt Road,
Building 5
West Chicago, EL 60185
708-293-6800

Marion Region
2309 W. Main
Marion, IL 62959
618-993-7010

George Czapar is an integrated pest management educator with University of Illinois Extension. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Illinois and his Ph.D. in Agronomy from Iowa State University. Dr. Czapar serves as coordinator for the best management practices (BMP) water quality project, and is based out of the Springfield Extension Center. Telephone (217) 782-6515. E-Mail: g-czapar@uiuc.edu

4 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING NOVEMBER 1998