An abandoned well refers to a well that is no longer in use or has been permanently closed. Abandoned wells can pose environmental hazards depending on factors such as the condition of the well casing, the number of aquifers penetrated, and the proximity to potential sources of contamination. If you have an abandoned well, it is important to properly decommission it to prevent any potential contamination of groundwater.

If you have an abandoned well on your property that is not properly sealed, it can pose a safety risk and may also contaminate the groundwater. If someone falls into an abandoned well on your property and gets hurt, you may be held liable. Additionally, if the aquifer becomes contaminated due to the abandoned well, you may be responsible for the costs of cleaning up the contamination.

Depending on your location, you may need to obtain permits or follow specific regulations for decommissioning a well. Check with your local health department or regulatory agency to ensure compliance with any applicable requirements. It is important to keep records of the well decommissioning process, including any permits obtained, materials used, and the date of decommissioning. This documentation may be required for future reference or if you decide to sell your property.

It is recommended to seek the assistance of a licensed well contractor or a qualified professional who has experience in well decommissioning. They will disconnect the power supply and ensure that the pump is no longer operational.

The well should be properly sealed to prevent any surface water or contaminants from entering the well. This typically involves removing the pump and any associated equipment, and then filling the well with an appropriate sealing material, such as bentonite clay or neat cement grout.

Unfortunately, many old wells were constructed and abandoned prior to any regulations. Legacy farms and land previously used for livestock have a high potential of having unfilled or poorly filled large diameter wells. Signs to look for are circular sunken areas with a ring of bricks, an uncapped metal pipe protruding from the ground, or a slab of concrete with or without a hand pump. Talking with previous owners or neighbors may help you find out if any of these wells exist on your property.

To determine if a property has abandoned wells that were properly sealed, you can start by checking the well log. The well log is a record kept by the well driller and it provides information about the construction of the well. If you or the well driller don’t have the well log, you can try obtaining it from the agency that handles well logs in your state. If you don't know who that is, search the internet for "[your state] well logs." Once you have the well log, you can take it to your local public health department. They can review the log and determine if the well construction meets the current standards. This will help you identify if there are any abandoned wells on the property that were properly sealed.