Submitted photo Look for evidence of abandoned wells in your yard - such as a black pipe with a white cap.

Ask John Freitag, Washington County Public Health and Environment, to show you some pictures of abandoned wells around the area, and you'll quickly see why there is a problem. One homeowner tried to cap an old well pipe with an upside down plastic bottle, while another favored a sturdy strip of duck tape. Some of the old wells are outside in people's backyards, while others poke out into basements, often alongside canisters of oil, paint and household cleaners. In one case, the well pipe pops out just behind a dingy looking toilet in a basement.

Abandoned wells threaten our drinking water because they provide a direct route for toxins to reach groundwater supplies. In the east metro suburbs, 100 percent of the water used for homes, businesses and agriculture comes from groundwater aquifers.

Both private and municipal wells tap into these aquifers, and for the most part, the water is exceptionally clean. When water soaks into the ground, it generally takes years to reach the aquifers and during this time, layers of sand, soil and clay capture and breakdown bacteria and chemicals. An abandoned well, however, is a speedy pathway that can carry dirt, bacteria and toxic chemicals down into the ground with no opportunity for filtration. A short and dirty list of pollutants that could easily make their way into abandoned wells includes dead animals, human and animal sewage, dirt, lawn chemicals and construction debris.

Minnesota state law requires all wells that are not in use to be sealed by a licensed contractor. The process entails removing debris from the well and then filling and sealing it with grout. Unfortunately, many owners of older homes may not even be aware that they have an unused well on their property. If your house was built before public water was available, there was likely a well on your property.

If you purchased your home after 1990, there should be a well disclosure certificate filed at the state Department of Health with information about the location and status of these wells.

You can also look for physical evidence of a well on your property - a well casing, pipe, or water pump; water pipes which may indicate the presence of a well; a small room, often in the basement, that may have housed a well; a small building located away from the house; a windmill or water pump; or a depression in the yard.

In Washington County, property owners can apply for cost-share grants that will pay for 50 percent of the cost, up to $2,000, to seal an unused well.

For more information, call 651-430-6655 or visit www.co.washington.mn.us. Dakota County (Brad Becker, 651-480-7777) and Chisago County (Deb Hermel, 651-674-2333) offer similar programs. Ramsey County does not have a cost-share program, but the city of North St. Paul does (Dave Kotilinek, 651-747-2437) and Anoka County has a program for agricultural producers only (Jaime Schaunaman, 763-241-1170, ext. 3).