Commonly Asked Questions About Abandoning a Well

A private well is an invaluable asset in any property, offering a constant and reliable water supply without a monthly bill. Also, you access quality and better-tasting water without depending on municipal water.

After the end of its useful life, a well is abandoned. However, abandoning a well is not as simple as ceasing to use it; it calls for unplugging or decommissioning to promote personal and water supply safety. Learn more about abandoning a well.

Why Do People Abandon Wells?

A well is referred to as abandoned when it is not in use for six consecutive months. You can abandon a well when you dig a new one or connect your property to a public or community water system. Also, faulty wells such as those posing safety concerns or contaminated ones can be abandoned.

Are Abandoned Wells Dangerous?

An abandoned well is hazardous when not correctly plugged or not plugged at all. Unplugged abandoned wells are dangerous in several ways. First, abandoned wells are a safety hazard for people and animals. Kids and pets can fall into an abandoned well without correct capping.

Second, an abandoned well is a potential liability, and you can be sued for personal injury and groundwater contamination. For instance, if someone falls into an unplugged abandoned well in your property and injures themselves, you will often be held liable and can incur substantial legal and medical costs.

Third, an abandoned well offers a direct path for contaminants like fertilizers, pesticides, and other disease-causing organisms on the surface to get into the groundwater and pollute it.

Since many communities in Northern Nevada use private wells, their water supply can be affected and contaminated.

How Do You Find Abandoned Wells on a Property?

Look out for signs of a well such as depressions on the ground, visible pipes protruding on the surface, old plywood on the ground, and old well houses. A property’s old photos, fire insurance plan drawings, and government surveys can indicate the possibility of an abandoned well. Also, inquiring about abandoned wells from previous property owners or neighbors can help.

Which Is the Right Way to Abandon a Well?

Abandoning a well is not simply failing to use it; it involves taking the necessary steps to physically and legally abandon it. You must follow your state’s regulations on the proper well abandonment. In Nevada, all abandoned should be plugged. Consider working with a licensed well driller since they know the well abandonment process and possess the right equipment for the task.

Typically, the process involves ripping the well casing and filling the drill hole with cement, gravel, or a bentonite product. Also, you must fill in the required documentation as evidence of abandoning the well legally. Plugging an abandoned well provides peace of mind knowing that it no longer poses safety, liability, and water quality issues.

How Much Does Well Abandonment Cost?

The cost of well abandonment differs from well to well depending on location, depth, diameter, and geological conditions. Also, different well drillers charge varying fees for abandoning a well. You can expect to pay more for a deep well than a shallow one since the former requires more work and filling material.

Fortunately, most states offer financial assistance like grants and loans for well abandonment. The Nevada State Office for Rural Economic and Community Development, for instance, provides loans and grants to help in sealing unused wells.

Contact Bruce MacKay Pump & Well Service for well abandonment services in Northern Nevada. We also drill new wells and clean and deepen existing ones. Our team is trained and experienced and uses top-notch equipment to provide the best services possible.