Plugging Abandoned Wells

Instructions for landowners:
>  Environmental staff will conduct an on-site well inspection to assess the amount of materials needed to fill well.
>  Landowner will be provided with the "Well Statistics" form for recommendation after the site visit.
>  To plug a well, the DNR recommends using a certified water well contractor, but the well owner can do it themselves, of two conditions are met:
          >  The owner must plug the well properly.
          >  Either a certified well contractor or a county agent must 
              sign a form saying the well was plugged according to
              the state's standards.
          NOTE:  any well over 100 feet deep must be plugged by
          a certified well contractor.

Instructions for plugging a shallow well:
>  Remove all drop pipes, check valves, pumps and any other obstructions, if possible.
>  The casing of the well must be removed from ground level down four feet.  This can fall into the well.
>  If there is water in the well, the water must be pumped out before lime screenings are deposited in the well to prevent bridging effect of the lime screenings.
>  The lime screenings are dumped slowly into the well to the top of the remaining casing.
>  At this point, the bentonite is placed over the lime screening by the homeowner.  The plugging procedure is finished.  The additional portion of the hole may be covered with dirt or lime screening.

Information on Financial Assistance:
Financial Assistance is available at the county level through a grants to counties program sponsored by IDPH.  Counties will reimburse property owners up to $400 for each well on the property, and $300 for plugging cisterns.  (www.idph.state.ia.us/eh/toxicology_grants.asp)
>  Contracted labor is not covered in the grants.
>  The homeowner will need the following documentation:
          >  Holeplug certification
          >  Abandoned Well Plugging Cost Sharing Agreement
          >  Iowa Department of Natural Resources Abandoned
              Water Well Plugging Record
>  The homeowner is responsible for providing receipts for payment.