Sometimes old wells get covered up and forgotten about over the years. This usually happens near older farm houses, but abandoned wells can also be found in cities, including Macomb.
When a well is unidentified, children and pets are at the risk of falling in and drowning, said Steve Bennett, who helps seal abandoned wells in Macomb.
Abandoned wells also collect bacteria like E Coli that can contaminate the water in wells used nearby.
Bennett said even if a well has been covered and inactive for years, it can still have water in it. He said in the city, wells can be covered by old concrete slabs or old wooden boards in odd places.
“Abandoned wells, by code, if there is no working pump in them they’re considered abandoned and should be sealed,” said Bennett.
Bennett and the McDonough County Groundwater Protection Education Committee held a well sealing demonstration to show the community how to properly seal an abandoned well.
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