Funds available to help seal abandoned wells

Cost-share funding for the sealing of abandoned wells in Kane and DuPage counties has been made available through the Conservation 2000 Program of the Illinois Dept. of Agriculture. Any individual who owns or manages an abandoned water well is eligible for cost-share funds not to exceed $400 or 60 percent of the actual cost, whichever is less.

State agencies estimate that there are more than 100,000 improperly abandoned wells in Illinois that pose a significant threat to local health and safety. Improperly abandoned wells may be a direct conduit for pollutants to enter aquifers, the primary source of drinking water in Illinois.

The deadline for application packets must be filed with the Kane-DuPage Soil & Water Conservation District on or before Sept. 1, 2009. Funding for the program is limited. Applicants will be notified before November 2009 on the status of their requests.

Application packets are available at the Kane-DuPage Soil & Water Conservation District at 2315 Dean Street, Suite 100, St. Charles, or call (630) 584-796, ext. 3. Forms can be downloaded from the internet at www.kanedupageswcd.org.