Anoka County residents will benefit from a new $70,000 clean water grant that will provide assistance to seal unused wells to protect groundwater resources from contamination. This grant is an extension of ACD's current well-sealing program which has made great progress over the past four years. The proposed grant will enable ACD to seal up to an additional 30 unused wells, targeting those within DWSMAs and deep wells intersecting multiple aquifers. 

If you have an old well that you no longer use, you may be eligible for cost-share funding to seal it! Unused wells could be direct conduits for pollution to reach our drinking water supply, so it is important to have unused wells sealed by a professional. Learn more about the program and see if you qualify here: www.anokaswcd.org/well-sealing.html. For more information contact Kris Larson, Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

In Anoka County, 330,000 residents (94%) depend on groundwater for drinking water, using about 12 billion gallons annually. Wells (residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial) that are unused and unsealed pose a significant health and safety hazard by creating a direct conduit to introduce contaminants (e.g. pesticides, nutrients, pathogens) into groundwater supplies. The highly permeable sands of the Anoka Sand Plain are likely a significant source of groundwater recharge for several of the major aquifers that supply water needs throughout the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. Visit the Minnesota Department of Health webpage for more information on well sealing in MN. 

Anoka County was one of the few counties in Minnesota that lacked a program to assist landowners with paying to seal unused wells. In response, ACD established a well sealing cost-share program, using a FY20 Clean Water Fund (CWF) grant. As awareness of the program grew, demand increased, highlighting the need for such financial assistance. Since 2020, ACD's well sealing program has made significant progress. ACD staff has worked with hundreds of landowners, promoting and educating on well sealing, resulting in the sealing of 67 high-priority unused wells.

Project Features:

• A coconut fiber biolog was installed on top of the previously installed coir-log to raise the elevation.
• The void space was filled with brush bundles and topsoil.
• Topsoil was graded by hand.
• Erosion control fabric was installed over the other project features to hold in place.
• Live staked above coir logs with Red osier dogwood.
• Native plants were planted along the top of bank to provide aesthetics, wildlife habitat and additional stabilization.

Pollution Reduction:

• Phosphorus reduction: 0.616 lbs/yr
• Sediment reduction: 1,450 lbs/yr

Cost-share funding was provided from BWSR SWCD Aid and a contribution from the landowner. ACD provided project administration, design, and project installation.For more information contact Kris Larson, Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

When residents begin to get their homes ready for the upcoming winter season, they may find household materials that may pose a hazardous risk to the environment and public safety. The fall is a great time to get rid of these unwanted item in a safe and easy way. Unusable or unwanted chemicals are considered household hazardous waste when their disposal poses an environmental or health threat. When disposed of in the garbage, down the drain or on the ground, some household chemicals can threaten our environment, harm garbage collectors or hurt you. 

Most household hazardous wastes are hazardous because they are flammable, corrosive or toxic. Characteristic words indicate the type of hazard posed by a product - flammable, corrosive or toxic. Look for the signal words on the label. Signal words - caution, warning, danger, poison - indicate the product's degree of hazard. To help protect the environment and your health, choose the least hazardous product to get the job done. For more information contact Kris Larson, Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.