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WELLS Well Management Properly constructed and maintained water wells can provide safe water for many years, but as wells age, they will deteriorate or become damaged and eventually lose their ability to keep contaminants out of the water. First, make sure that your well is located and constructed properly. If your well is old, or has not been inspected for many years, contact a licensed well contractor and have the well inspected. If your well has outlived its useful life, it should be properly sealed and replaced with a modern, safe well. What is well disclosure? Well disclosure is the process by which the seller of property provides information to the buyer and the state about the location and status of all wells on the property. Before signing an agreement to sell or transfer property, the seller must disclose this information in writing to the buyer. A well disclosure certificate is also required at closing and is filed with the County Recorder. If the seller makes a false disclosure, they are liable to the buyer for costs related to sealing the well for up to six years after the purchase of property. For additional information on well disclosure, or to obtain a publication at no cost, contact the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) or go to www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/index.html How do I know if there is a well on my property? Almost every home has had to have some kind of water supply. If a home is older than an existing well or older than when the home was connected to municipal water or rural water, then there is likely an old well on the property. A well usually appears as a pipe or casing from 1-1/4 to 6 inches in diameter, but may be a ring of concrete or tile up to 3 feet in diameter. The pipe may be sticking out of the ground or in a pit. A well inside the house can often be found by looking in the basement for a pipe that is sticking up from the floor or in a small room off to one side.  Farmsteads may have additional wells located in, or near, outbuildings or livestock areas. The previous owner or a neighbor may have knowledge of the location of the well.  Consult a well disclosure certificate available from the Minnesota Department of Health for property transfers after November 1, 1990.  A licensed well contractor can provide assistance in locating wells. What if a well is not in use? If a well is not in use, the property owner has three options: 1. The well can be put back into use; 2. The well can be sealed by a licensed well contractor, or a licensed well sealing contractor; or 3. The property owner can apply for a maintenance permit from the MDH. If one of these steps has not been taken at the time of property transfer, it will be the responsibility of the buyer to choose an option and follow through with it. Additional information is available on the MDH website at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/index.html What is well sealing? On your property, you could have one or more wells which are not in use, and which are not properly sealed. In the past they could have served former houses or buildings, or been used for irrigation or livestock watering. Wells which are abandoned can be a potential threat to health, safety, and the environment. Larger diameter wells can pose safety concerns for people or animals. Unused wells provide a pathway through which contaminants at the surface may move down to the groundwater and contaminate nearby wells. Identifying and sealing unused wells is one important way to protect groundwater from contamination. Well sealing involves removing pumping equipment and debris, and permanently and completely filling a well with a sealing material called grout. State law requires that a well must be sealed by a licensed well or well sealing contractor. For additional information on sealing unused wells, or to obtain a publication at no cost, contact the Minnesota Department of Health or go to www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/index.html  Groundwater provides drinking water to three out of four residents of Minnesota and must be protected from contamination. Who do I contact to have my water tested? A list of water testing laboratories may be obtained by contacting the Minnesota Department of Health or looking at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/index.html  The lab should be certified by the MDH.

What contaminants should my water be tested for? Sometimes water can become polluted with potentially hazardous contaminants such as nitrate, lead, or disease causing microorganisms. Many contaminants are tasteless, odorless, and colorless. Water which looks and tastes good may still be unsafe. Proper well construction, disinfection, regular water testing, and water system maintenance will help to ensure a safe water supply. Two standard tests, coliform bacteria and nitrate should be performed regularly on every well. Testing for other contaminants may also be advisable. When a new well is constructed, Minnesota law requires the water be tested for these two contaminants. The person who constructs the well is responsible for obtaining a sample and having it tested by a certified laboratory.   Arsenic is detected in about half the wells in Minnesota. Every private well should be tested at least once or twice to determine if arsenic is present, and at what levels. After a well has been in existence for a few months, arsenic levels would not be expected to change much over time. A water test only tells you about the water quality at the time the test was taken. At a minimum, private wells should be tested for coliform bacteria once a year and for nitrate every two to three years. A well should also be tested if there is a sudden change in appearance or taste of the water. For further information on these, and tests for other contaminants, contact the Minnesota Department of Health. Protect your health—test your private well water. •  Test your well water at least once a year for bacteria. •  Test your well water at least once every year or two for nitrate, and always before giving it to an infant. •  Test your well water at least once for arsenic. Building, Remodeling, Demolition, and Wells During building, demolition, or remodeling, sometimes unused wells are discovered. Care should be taken not to damage a well. Damaged wells can lead to contamination of the well and groundwater. Damaged wells are also more difficult and expensive to repair or seal.                                                       Wells may not be buried, bulldozed, or otherwise excavated while doing building projects or demolition. When constructing additions to your home, adding new buildings, or making changes to septic systems or other contamination sources, be sure to maintain the required separation distances to your well. What are the setbacks from contamination sources? Remodeling or building projects may involve installation of sewers or other sources of contamination. A minimum isolation distance must be maintained between a well and a source of contamination to protect the well and groundwater. This distance applies to the construction of new wells, and to the placement of contamination sources near existing wells. Well rules contain specific distances from contamination sources such as petroleum tanks, chemical storage, and septic systems. Contact the Minnesota Department of Health, Faribault County SWCD, or go to www.faribaultcountyswcd.com for specific setback requirements. What do I need to consider when locating my new well? A well must be located so that it meets the minimum required isolation distances. These are between the well and utilities, buildings, and potential sources of contamination. Before construction begins, the best location on the property should be identified by considering the land elevation and location of proposed or existing buildings, buried gas or power lines, and potential sources of contamination. A licensed well contractor can help you choose the best location for your new well. What is the required permit or notification? The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) must be notified before well construction begins. The notification form must be submitted by the well contractor or the property owner and must be accompanied by the appropriate fee. Construction may begin when the notification form and fee have been received by MDH. Where can I get a list of licensed well contractors? The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Well Management Section licenses or registers contractors who construct, repair, modify, and seal wells and borings.  This directory of licensed or registered well contractors may be obtained by contacting the Minnesota Department of Health or looking at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/lwc/index.html