News Release 655
Department of Natural Resources awards $17,500 to Miner to plug abandoned wells
Volume 38-655 (For Immediate Release)
For more information:
573-751-1010
JEFFERSON CITY, MO, NOV. 23, 2010—The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded the city of Miner $17,500 to plug abandoned drinking water wells.
The grant funds will be used to locate and plug abandoned wells within the recharge area for the community’s drinking water supply wells. Unplugged abandoned wells can pose a threat to public health by providing a direct conduit for near-surface contaminants to gain entry into drinking water aquifers. The department estimates there may be as many as 500,000 unplugged abandoned wells in Missouri.
Groundwater aquifers supply water for about 94 percent of Missouri’s public water systems. Plugging an abandoned well is much more cost effective than trying to clean up an aquifer after it has been contaminated.
The funds must be used to hire licensed well installation contractors who have the knowledge and expertise to perform well plugging work properly.
These grants are funded through set asides from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, established through the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Miner was one of 13 public water supplies awarded grants to plug abandoned wells.
Other grant recipients include
- City of Branson West--$2,550
- Branson West Notch--$1,300
- City of Windsor--$8,835
- City of Willard--$11,500
- City of Caruthersville--$10,000
- Missouri American Water - Warrensburg District--$4,600
- Missouri American Water - St. Joseph District--$2,800
- Missouri American Water - Mexico District--$2,800
- Missouri American Water - Brunswick District--$2,800
- Missouri American Water - Joplin District--$6,400
- St. Charles Public Water Supply District #2--$10,000
- Town of West Sullivan--$12,600
For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources’ Public Drinking Water Branch at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5331.
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