Local Partners Help Protect Clarks Grove Drinking Water

Stories from the Source

Clarks Grove, a city in southern Minnesota, was concerned about an abandoned creamery well and the threat it posed to its public drinking water supply. This well was of particular concern to the city because of its location within the Drinking Water Supply Management Area (DWSMA) and because creamery wells are typically deep, which increases the likelihood that the well was completed within the same aquifer as the city wells. This is a concern because unused wells have the potential to leach contaminants into the nearby groundwater.

The city wellhead manager reached out to the property owner, gauging their interest for sealing the abandoned well and ensuring there were no other unknown and unsealed wells on the property. The property owner was supportive of the efforts if financial assistance could be provided to help with the costs of the project. With the help of Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) staff, the city of Clarks Grove applied for and secured a Source Water Protection (SWP) Implementation Grant in the spring of 2024. The grant was awarded to cover the costs of preparing the well for sealing and getting an evaluation of the property by a licensed well contractor to determine if other wells were present.

To seal the well, the property owner received watershed-based funding from the Shell Rock – Winnebago Watershed One Watershed, One Plan (1W1P). The Shell Rock-Winnebago Watershed had identified groundwater and drinking water as a priority in their 1W1P, therefore funds were available to assist with the well sealing. This was supported by MDH staff from the SWP and Well Management programs as well as a local well driller. The SWP Implementation Grant, made possible through the Clean Water Fund, provided $4,580 in assistance to prep the well and a conduct a building search which included moving rubble. The Shell Rock – Winnebago Watershed funded another $10,000 to seal the well.

Through the dedication and collaboration between the city, property owner, MDH staff and the Shell Rock-Winnebago Watershed, the well was sealed at no cost to the owner of the creamery. With the initiative taken by the city of Clarks Grove, this project helped remove a potential source of contamination from the city’s DWSMA. Sealing the abandoned creamery well also helped protect nearby city wells which provide safe drinking water to residents. The City of Clarks Grove was recognized in 2025 as a finalist for the Source Water Protection Award for their exemplary commitment to protecting their drinking water source.

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