The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications for funding to plug abandoned private and public drinking wells in the Lake Area.

Officials say you can submit an application to the DNR from now until December 31^st.

The DNR Says abandoned wells are physical hazards and a conduit for surface contamination of groundwater.

The maximum payout in grant funds is $15,000.

Department of Natural Resources offers funding to plug abandoned water wells

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications for projects to plug abandoned private, multiple-family or public drinking water wells. Regulated, groundwater-based community and non-profit noncommunity public water systems may submit applications to the Department from November 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

Abandoned wells are physical hazards and a direct conduit for surface contamination of groundwater aquifers. Subsurface aquifers are the primary source of drinking water for over 2.9 million Missourians.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must be a regulated community or non-profit noncommunity public water system with at least one active or emergency public water well. Awards are limited to a maximum of $15,000 in grant funds and a 25 percent per-well cost-share is required for plugging public water wells. No cost-share is required to plug private or multiple-family wells. Certified well drilling or pump installation contractors licensed to operate in Missouri must perform actual well plugging activities for proposed projects to qualify for funding.

Applicants must register with the Department’s online funding portal (https://dnr.mo.gov/fundingoppportal.htm) to access and apply for funding. For additional information, contact the Department’s Source Water Protection Program Coordinator at 573-526-0269, via email at sourcewaterprotection@dnr.mo.gov, or visit https://dnr.mo.gov/pubs/documents/Abandoned-Well-Plugging-Grant-Application-Criteria-and-Instructions-for-Form-780-2162.htm.