Well Abandonment Grants

Who can apply

Who can apply

Before you start the application process, determine if you are eligible to apply for a well abandonment grant. Work completed before submitting an application and receiving DNR approval will not be reimbursed.

Step 1: Determine if your family income is eligible

• Families with income of $65,000 or less for the prior calendar year are eligible to apply.
• Families with income above $65,000 for the prior calendar year are not eligible to apply.
  • Learn how to find your Wisconsin income on your Wisconsin Income Tax Return.

NOTE: Families with income between $45,000 and $65,000 are eligible to apply and will have their reimbursement amount reduced, per Wisconsin Statutes. Learn more about reductions and see an example.

Step 2: Who may apply for a grant?

• Landowner
• Spouse of landowner
• Heir of landowner
• Assignee or legal representative of landowner
• Renter of land
• Shared well owner of a private residential water supply

Step 3: What costs are covered by a grant?

Eligible costs of materials and labor to fill and seal private wells that are abandoned or unused.

Applying

How to apply

If you are eligible to apply for a well abandonment grant, your next step is to apply. Do not have any work done before you apply and receive approval from DNR. Well abandonment work done before you apply and receive a grant approval will not be eligible for reimbursement under this grant program.

Step 1

Contact a licensed well driller or pump installer for an itemized estimate. If you need assistance consult a licensed well driller or pump installer.

Step 2

Complete the Well Abandonment Grant Application Claim (Form 8700-314)

The following items must be included with the application claim:

• Itemized cost estimate on business letterhead/form provided by the licensed well professional you plan to hire to complete your well abandonment
• W-9 Form [PDF exit DNR] (required for check processing)

NOTE: If your current income changed significantly, due to job loss or retirement, from what was reported on your last year's WI Income Tax Form you must complete and submit one of the following documents with your application. You may also submit an affidavit if you are not required to file a WI tax return.

• Affidavit of Income Exempt Filing
• Affidavit of Income Reduction
• Affidavit of Projected Income for Current Year

Step 3

Email completed well abandonment application claim (Form 8700-314) and all required attachments to DNRCFAWellGrantsIntake@wisconsin.gov, listed on Well Abandonment Grant Application claim (Form 8700-314), or send by US mail to:

Well Grant Intake
WI Department of Natural Resources - DG/5
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707

Step 4

If your well abandonment grant application claim is approved, you will receive an approval letter from DNR. Work completed before receiving the approval letter will not be reimbursed.

Award information

Once you have been awarded a well abandonment grant by DNR, you may begin and complete work abandoning your well and requesting reimbursement. You have one year from the date on the grant award document to properly fill and seal your old well and request payment from the DNR.

Step 1

DNR will send you an award packet

• Award packet will contain:
  • Three copies of the grant award agreement (one copy for your files, one copy for the licensed well driller or licensed pump installer and a DNR copy for you to sign and return to DNR.)
  • A blank copy of Request for Payment Claim (Form 8700-315)

Step 2

Hire a licensed well driller or pump installer to complete the work specified in the grant agreement.

• Give a copy of the signed grant award document to the licensed well professional you hire before construction begins
• The unused private well must be properly abandoned and filled by a licensed well driller or pump installer according to DNR specifications before reimbursement from the DNR is possible

Reimbursements

Step 1

After the well is properly abandoned, complete all the following required reimbursement forms:

• Request for Payment Claim (Form 8700-315)
• Well Abandonment Report. Your licensed well driller or pump installer is required to submit this form electronically and provide a printed copy to you
• A copy of the itemized invoice on business letterhead/form provided by your licensed well professional

NOTE:

• Since you hired the licensed well driller or pump installer to abandon your well, you are responsible to pay 100% of those costs. Learn more about costs. After you submit reimbursement request and we complete our review, a check for 75% of all eligible expenses will be sent to either you or the licensed well driller or pump installer that performed the work. (Award letter will explain more about how the check gets issued)
• The grant amount you receive is considered taxable income by the IRS. As a result, the DNR must report as income the amount you are reimbursed. Learn more about taxable income.

Step 2

Email all required reimbursement information from Step 1 to DNRCFAWellGrantsIntake@wisconsin.gov or send by US mail to:

WI Department of Natural Resources - DG/5
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707

Laws

Grant related statutes and administrative codes

• s. 281.75, Wis. Stats.
• ch. NR 123, Wis. Adm. Code

Contact

Contact information

For grant application and forms questions:

Well Grant Intake
608-267-9350

For payment claim and reimbursement questions:

Sandy Flesher
Grant Manager
Bureau of Community Financial Assistance
608-720-0122