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Program Description: Landowner Grant Program

What is the Landowner Grant Program?

The Landowner Grant Program is dedicated to plugging abandoned wells on private property in Illinois. This cooperative effort between the Department and private property owners increases the number of abandoned wells plugged each year and helps individuals return their property to its original use.

How is a well Eligible for a Grant?

Only those wells declared abandoned by an administrative order issued by the Department are eligible for the landowner grant program. To find out if a well on your property is eligible for a landowner grant, contact the District Office (District Field Offices) where the well is located or view the list of eligible wells maintained on this site.

Who is Eligible for A Grant?

The owner of the land on which the well is located is the only person eligible to receive a grant under this program. If the landowner is also the permittee of the well, that person is not eligible for a grant.

Application Process

The grant program is funded annually on a state fiscal year basis. Grant applications for an uncoming fiscal year may be submitted to the division's main office in Springfield after April 1 of each year. Upon receipt of a grant application, the department will determine if the application meets all program requirements. Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat to download this document.

Plugging the Well

Grants will be awarded after July 1 of each year. Please note that this program is a reimbursement program, the Department cannot send funds to the landowner until the work is completed. Well plugging activities shall be commenced within 120 days and be completed within 180 days of the grant approval (weather permitting).

For more information, please contact the Landowner Grant Program Manager.