Sealing Unused Private Drinking Water Wells

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$290,000
2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$112,000
2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
Fund Source
Clean Water Fund
Recipient
Multiple Local Government Units
Recipient Type
Local/Regional Government
Status
In Progress
Start Date
January 2012
End Date
June 2021
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Benton
Big Stone
Carver
Crow Wing
Douglas
Hennepin
Mahnomen
Martin
Mille Lacs
Norman
Otter Tail
Ramsey
Rice
Sherburne
Wright
Benton
Big Stone
Carver
Crow Wing
Douglas
Hennepin
Mahnomen
Martin
Mille Lacs
Norman
Otter Tail
Ramsey
Rice
Sherburne
Wright
Project Overview

Approximately 70 percent of all Minnesotans rely on groundwater as their primary source of drinking water. Wells used for drinking water must be properly sealed when removed from service to protect both public health and Minnesota’s invaluable groundwater resources. The Minnesota Department of Health with the assistance of the Board of Water and Soil Resources protects both public health and groundwater by assuring the proper sealing of unused wells.” Clean Water funds are being provided to home owners as a 50% cost-share assistance for sealing unused private drinking water wells. These funds are to be used to provide assistance to well owners for the sealing of unused wells in accordance with Minnesota Rules 4725.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

The 20-member BWSR board consists of representatives of local and state government agencies and citizens. Members are appointed by the governor of the state of Minnesota consistent with Minnesota Statutes 103B.101. Board members at the time the grant was made were: County Commissioner Appointees: Quentin Fairbanks; Tom Loveall; Brian Napstad; Soil and Water Conservation District Appointees: Paul Langseth, Louise Smallidge and Bob Burandt; Watershed District or Watershed Management Organization Appointees: Gene Tiedemann, LuAnn Tolliver and Todd Foster; Citizen Appointees: Paul Brutlag ; Gerald Van Amburg; John Meyer; Cities & Townships: Sandy Hooker – Township; Christy Jo Fogarty – Metro City; Keith Mykleseth – Non-Metro City; Agency: Chris Elvrum - Minnesota Department of Health; Rebecca Flood - Pollution Control Agency; Tom Landwehr - Department of Natural Resources; Matt Wohlman - Minnesota Department of Agriculture; Faye Sleeper - Minnesota Extension Service;

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Wayne Zellmer – BWSR Grants Coordinator; Matt Drewitz – BWSR South Region Clean Water Specialist; Art Persons – MDH Planning Supervisor Drinking Water Protection; Jeff Hrubes – BWSR North Region Clean Water Specialist; Marcey Westrick – BWSR Metro Clean Water Specialist; Julie Westerlund –DNR Clean Water Coordinator; Robert L. Sip – MDA Environmental Policy Specialist; Anna Kerr – MPCA – Stormwater / TMDL Coordinator; Nick Proulx –DNR Central Region Clean Water Legacy Specialist; Karen Evens - MPCA – Watershed Projects Manager; Joshua Stamper – MDA Research Scientist, Pesticide & Fertilizer Management; Norman R. Mofjeld – MDA Hydrologist P.G. Well Management Section;

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Minnesota Laws 2011, chapter 6, article 2, section 8(c)
Appropriation Language

$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year are for cost-share assistance to public and private well owners for up to 50 percent of the cost of sealing unused wells. MDH provided $250,000 to BWSR to administer and awarded funds to local government units as part of their competitive grant program. Local government units them provided cost-share assistance to private well owners to seal their unused wells.

2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$201,924
Direct expenses
$176,575
Administration costs
$31,505
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.33
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Evaluation and Outcome PlanEvaluation and outcome plans are required as a part of the grant agreement between BWSR and the grantee. These required plans consist of verifying project installation and creating operation and maintenance plans to ensure the project is functioning as designed.   Funded projects meet locally identified water quality goals within the larger scope of Minnesota's clean water efforts. Projects reduce pollutant loads aimed at improving watershed health over time. The long-term evaluation of clean water fund projects will be monitored as part of the state’s intensive watershed monitoring strategy.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Sealed 266 unused private wells.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2013, chapter 137, article 2, section 8(c)
Appropriation Language

$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year are for cost-share assistance to public and private well owners for up to 50 percent of the cost of sealing unused wells. MDH provided $250,000 to BWSR to administer and awarded funds to local government units as part of their competitive grant program. Local government units them provided cost-share assistance to private well owners to seal their unused wells.

2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$290,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$256,698
Direct expenses
$290,000
Administration costs
$13,843
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.33
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

To seal at least 170 unused private wells by December 31, 2016.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Sealed 391 unused private wells.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Minnesota Laws 2015, Chapter 2, Article 2, Section 8(c)
Appropriation Language

$113,000 the first year and $112,000 the second year are for cost-share assistance to public and private well owners for up to 50 percent of the cost of sealing unused wells.

2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$112,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$47,915
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.33
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

To seal at about 226 unused private wells by June 3, 2019.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Sealed 203 unused private wells.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Minnesota Laws 2017, Chapter 91, Article 2, Section 8(c)
Appropriation Language

$250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year are for cost-share assistance to public and private well owners for up to 50 percent of the cost of sealing unused wells.

2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$250,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$17,800
Number of full time equivalents funded
.33
Measurable Outcome(s)

Sealed 324 unused private wells.

Project Manager
Organization Name
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
Phone
(651) 296-3767
Administered By
Administered by
Location

P.O. Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975

Phone
651-201-5000