Many farms have abandoned wells. Old home sites or shallow wells once pumped by windmills are common. No one knows how many abandoned wells there are, but estimates for each of the midwestern states, range in the hundreds of thousands.
If not properly filled and sealed, these wells can provide a direct conduit for surface water carrying pollutants into the groundwater. In addition, large open wells pose safety hazards for small children and animals. After determining that you have an abandoned well, well closing should be considered.
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