Pollution of our groundwater is a concern for all of us. That's because everyone in Rock County gets their drinking water from groundwater, whether you live in one of the municipalities or have a private well. Groundwater can become contaminated through many activities.
One source of groundwater contamination that most of us overlook is unused or improperly abandoned wells. Estimates are that there are over 500 improperly sealed wells in Rock County. These wells are a direct connection to groundwater. Anything that gets into the old wells flows directly into your drinking water. That can range from small animals to chemicals flowing in runoff water.
Rock County has a well abandonment program that provides cost share funds to help defray the costs associated with closing. When a Cost Share agreement is approved, you must hire a well driller or a certified pump installer to abandon your well. Costs for proper sealing are often less than $500 before cost sharing. This is a small price to pay when compared with the cost of trying to purify contaminated water or drilling a new well. Remember, if there is an abandoned well on your property that becomes contaminated, your drinking water will probably be the first thing affected. Take care of the health of your family.
