Southwest Florida Quality of Water Improvement Program (QWIP) Well Plugging (QWIP)

QWIP reimburses landowners for having a licensed Florida water well contractor properly plug abandoned, free-flowing or deteriorating artesian wells that waste water or let poor-quality aquifers contaminate good ones. District staff inspect the well and set the eligible amount from a depth-and-diameter schedule, and the plugging must be witnessed. It is limited to mapped artesian areas in west-central Florida counties.

• Well located in specific artesian well areas: DeSoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas, Sarasota, and portions of Charlotte, Pasco, Polk and Highlands counties

• Four inches in diameter or greater

• At least one year old

• Drilled for a water supply

Up to $6,000 per well and $18,000 per landowner per year; reimbursement = schedule amount or contractor invoice, whichever is less.

Published amounts: Reimbursement amounts are not to exceed $6,000 per well and $18,000 annually per landowner. Amounts are based on well depth and average diameter (reimbursement schedule); District pays the schedule amount or contractor invoice, whichever is less.

Fill out the QWIP Application Form; District QWIP staff inspect the well and notify the landowner of the eligible reimbursement. The landowner then contracts a licensed Florida water well contractor to plug the well within 90 days of the claim form date; District staff or another permitting authority must witness the plugging, then the District issues reimbursement.

Deadline text on the page: Rolling: 'Qualified wells will be considered for reimbursement in the order by which they are reported.' Contractor must plug the well within 90 days of the claim form date.