402 S. Brown St. · Jackson, MI 49203 Phone: (517) 783-3883, Fax: (517) 783-4398 E-mail: water@daenvironmental.com Mon.-Fri. 8-4:30 (open most legal holidays)

What Is a Well? A well is a very long tube of steel or plastic that is drilled into the ground, down into the "aquifer". A cement-like material is placed on the outside of the casing to seal it from outside contamination. A secure cap is placed on top. A pump provides the force needed to draw the water from the aquifer into your home.

How To Make Your Well Last 1) Don't place your well in a location that's prone to be run over by cars. 2) Make sure your well cap is on straight and can't be wiggled. 3) Make sure there are no cracks in the well cap. 4) Make sure the conduit is tight and secure. 5) Avoid landscaping with wood chips and plants around the casing. 6) Don't allow hoses, such as softener discharge lines, to lie on the floor near a sump pump or floor drain. And remember...7) It's a state law that after any pump work or plumbing the system must be chlorinated.

How Contamination Occurs Abandoned wells are wells that are no longer in use or are in such disrepair that groundwater can no longer be obtained from them. The objective of abandoned well closure is to reduce the risk of contaminants moving down an abandoned well and contaminating groundwater supplies. No one knows how many abandoned wells are located in Michigan. It is important to realize that these wells are unsafe and can provide a direct route for contamination to reach your drinking water. Abandoned wells that are open on the surface can allow surface runoff and any contamination contained in that runoff to enter groundwater supplies and completely bypass the natural filtration capacity of the soil.	Why Close Abandoned Wells? 1) To reduce the risk of groundwater contamination. 2) To eliminate the risk of children or livestock being injured by falling into the well. 3) To avoid liability under Michigan's Polluter Pay Law, 91982 PA-307 if groundwater contamination is caused by an abandoned well on your property. Many financial institutions even require that abandoned wells be closed before they will finance land transactions. Also, they current high level of cost-share makes properly closing abandoned wells the best liability insurance you can buy.
Closing an Old (Abandoned) Well
Old wells can be closed by the landowner or a licensed well driller. The process for dug wells and hand driven wells is not difficult. However drilled, deep, bedrock and artesian (flowing) wells should be closed by a licensed well driller with the proper equipment.

What Are Earwigs? The earwig is a brown insect about an inch long and a quarter-inch wide. It's distinguishing feature is it's fierce-looking tail pincer. Earwigs don't pose much of a problem unless you find them in your well. Getting Rid of Earwigs 1) Clean away debris, such as wood piles and vegetation, from around your well casing. 2) Install an insect-proof well cap or seal. 3) Chlorinate the well. 4) Make sure all earwigs are physically removed from the well and storage tank.
Where Do I Go For Water Testing?
Bottles must be obtained before the water may be tested. You can get a bottle at our office at 402 S. Brown St. in Jackson. We are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are also bottles available around the county. Check our main page for the locations. Currently, the testing takes 18 hours and the results can be mailed, faxed, phoned, or e-mailed. There is a $20.00 charge for bacterial testing. Nitrate screening and hardness testing can also be done. Other testing is available through the state laboratory. For more information, call (517) 783-3883, or e-mail water@daenvironmental.com.
© 2008 by ADM Environmental, L.L.C. Revised 12/25/2020.