Five Reasons Why Decommissioning Abandoned Wells Is So Important

Whether you’ve recently moved to a property with an abandoned well or you’re about to abandon one yourself, it’s important that you properly decommission your wells. Wells are considered “abandoned” when they’re no longer in use, or the well is in such poor condition that it can no longer be used. When that happens, you need to take the right steps to officially decommission the well. Here’s why this is so important:

• Safety issues: Abandoned wells are dangerous to people and animals, especially if their location isn’t immediately obvious. If you have small children or pets—or people visit with their own—you need to decommission all of your abandoned wells as soon as possible. This prevents people and animals from falling into the open well, as well as tripping hazards and other issues. If your well is covered by vegetation, it’s all too easy to injure yourself—even if you think you know where the hazards lie.
• Avoiding liability: Similarly, decommissioning your wells will help you avoid liability. If someone is injured on your property, they may be able to sue you for their medical bills and more. In fact, even trespassers may be able to sue if they’re injured on your property. The best way to avoid liability is to properly decommission your well as soon as it’s out of use.
• Protect your groundwater supply: In addition to protecting yourself and others from injury, decommissioning wells will help protect your groundwater supply—that is, the water you drink and use for cooking, washing dishes and laundry every day. Abandoned wells make it much easier for contaminants to enter the groundwater supply. In order to keep your well water safe to drink, it’s important to decommission abandoned wells as soon as you’re done using them.
• Land transfer: Depending on local laws, if you sell your property without properly decommissioning any abandoned wells, you could be liable for any associated costs or injuries to the new owners. Your land transfer documents should include the location of all wells—both current wells and those that have been decommissioned—so the new owner is fully aware of what they’re buying. Ask your real estate agent or attorney for further information.
• Put your mind at ease: Finally, decommissioning an abandoned well is the best way to rest easy at night, knowing kids, animals and wayward guests won’t fall in or injure themselves thanks to your abandoned wells. Your groundwater supply will remain safe, and you won’t need to worry about lawsuits or other issues, either.

As you can see, decommissioning your abandoned wells is important for a number of reasons. Make sure you understand your responsibilities as a property owner to limit issues and reduce your risk in the future.

If you have more questions about what to do with an abandoned well, call the team at Love Well & Pump Supply, LLC today. We’re happy to help you determine whether it’s time to decommission your well, and guide you through the process.

Categorised in: Well Abandonment

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