Well Abandonment Grant Application
Grant Application Process
- Application: Complete and submit the well sealing Well Sealing Grant Application
- Site visit: After your application has been received, you will be contacted to set up a site visit. The purpose of the site visit is to gather information and rank the well to determine the priority of the well relative to other applicants in the county (if there are others). In the event of more applications than available funds, applications will be prioritized using criteria based on the condition of the well, the potential to contaminate groundwater, availability of funds, and other factors. Grants cannot be offered retroactively to wells that have already been sealed before a grant agreement is in place.
- Grant agreement: After the site visit and application review, the Department will determine your eligibility status for 50% or 100% cost-share assistance, capped at $2,000 per well. If your application is approved, the Department will send a grant agreement and W-9 form. Once the Department receives the signed contract, you will be notified that your grant agreement is active and that you can proceed with sealing the well. Wells that have been sealed prior to execution of the grant agreement will not be eligible for reimbursement.
- Well sealing: The Department requires that at least two well sealing estimates are obtained from licensed well contractors and that the property owner proceed with the lower bid.
- Reimbursement: Submit a copy of both bids, a completed well sealing reimbursement form, a copy of the invoice and well sealing record from the licensed well contractor and proof of payment to the Department. Reimbursements are usually processed within 15-30 days.
Well Sealing Results
Since 2005, the Department of Public Health and Environment has helped seal more than 200 wells in the county, including wells that were sealed with the county’s 50% cost-share program, and wells sealed under the Clean Water Fund and 3M Settlement grants.