Wellhead Protection Plan
Groundwater
Like most suburbs in the Twin Cities, Fridley's drinking water is sourced from groundwater located in underground aquifers. Wells throughout the city pump the water from the ground and bring it to treatment plants. You can read more about about Fridley's drinking water on our drinking water page.
Protecting Our Groundwater
It is important to protect the quantity and quality of our groundwater to ensure that there is safe drinking water now and into the future. Underground aquifers take recharge once depleted, especially when hard surfaces like roads and parking lots prevent rain from infiltrating into the ground. If harmful chemicals contaminate the groundwater, it is very difficult and expensive to fix and can lead to a closure of a well.
Conserving water, promoting groundwater recharge, and properly disposing of chemicals help protect our water supply.
Well Sealing/Well Sealing Grant
Private wells can be a potential pathway for contaminants into the groundwater if not managed correctly. Well owners are responsible for testing, inspecting, protecting and sealing their wells. You must disclose the presence of a well on your property at the time of sale, and an unsealed well can cause cumbersome delays. The City has received grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Health to cover 75% of projects costs (up to $2,000) to seal certain unused wells in 2026. Learn more about finding and sealing wells:
Locating Wells
Wells can often look like:
- A pipe or ring sticking up from your basement floor or in the yard.
- A pipe or ring behind false paneling or in an offset room in the basement.
- A glass block in the stoop.
Well Screening Tool
Many wells have been buried or sealed over time. It is more likely that your property has a well if it was built within two years or less of the water service line being constructed. Use our Well Screening Tool to see if it is more or less likely that your property has a well.
If the Well Screening Tool indicates that you have a higher probability of a well, we recommend looking at the Department of Health's Website to find additional information about finding lost wells. You may also reach out to the City at 763-572-3566 or Web-PublicWorks@FridleyMN.gov to schedule a lost well inspection visit by a Fridley Public Works employee.
Managing Wells
Wells that are not properly managed can contaminate our drinking water and are a safety hazard. If you have a well on your property it is your responsibility to regularly inspect your well and protect it from damage. Property owners should follow the guidance in the Well Owner's Handbook(PDF, 2MB). A hardcopy of the Well Owner's Handbook is available at the Fridley Civic Campus.
Well Sealing Grant Process:
Once you've determined that you have a well on your property. Take these steps to obtain grant funding to seal the well.
1) Determine eligibility: Only wells located in a Drinking Water Supply Management Area are eligible for grant funds. Find out if you're in a Drinking Water Supply Management Area by checking the City's Well Screening Tool.
2) Obtain your preferred quote to seal the well from a licensed well contractor. It is recommended to obtain at least two quotes.
3) Complete a Well Sealing Grant(PDF, 261KB) application and submit the application form and materials by email to Web-PublicWorks@FridelyMN.gov or mail to 7071 University Ave NE, Fridley MN, 55432.
4) Wait to hear until your application is approved before proceeding. Only approved applications will be reimbursed.
5) Once approved, work with your selected well contractor to complete all work by December 31, 2026.
6) Submit your final invoice, proof of payment, and Well Sealing Record to your project contact.
7) Reimbursement of 75% of project costs (up to $2,000) will be sent to you by check with a W9 or applied as a credit towards your utility bill.
Questions? Please call 763-572-3566.
Wellhead Protection Plan
The City has a Wellhead Protection Plan to protect the City's drinking water and groundwater resources. You can view the 2018 Wellhead Protection Plan:
You can also view the presentations:
Contact Us
Engineering
7071 University Ave. NE
Fridley, MN 55432