Abandoned Wells
Over 90% of Monterey County's citizens are supplied by groundwater. Properly destroying abandoned wells protects our drinking water aquifers. So far, grant program activities have included public education and outreach activities, conducting abandoned well search activities and enforcement, and mapping abandoned wells. Addressing wells that pose the greatest threat to personal safety and groundwater quality will be our highest grant priority.
THE PROBLEM:
ABANDONED WELLS
An abandoned well is an open passage
that leads directly from the land's surface
into the groundwater below.
Contaminants can enter the groundwater
through an abandoned well, degrading the
quality of the water underground, and
making it less safe for the 95% of
Monterey County residents who use water
from wells for drinking and irrigation. Even
wells that appear to be sealed at the
surface, but have not been maintained,
can be a route of contamination to
groundwater. The costs of treating
polluted water to make it clean enough to
use are enormous.
An abandoned well with the wellhead
removed can also cause injury or even
death to children or animals who may fall
into it.
California Well Standards say a well is
considered abandoned if it has not been
used for one year, unless the owner
demonstrates an intention to use the well
again. Even inactive wells must be
properly maintained. According to State
law a landowner is responsible for the
proper destruction of any abandoned well
on their property. Landowners may also
be legally liable for groundwater pollution
or personal injury caused by an
abandoned well.
THE SOLUTION:
RECOGNIZE..REPORT..DESTROY
You can usually recognize an abandoned
well by one or more of the following
characteristics:
• Pipe sticking up out of the ground
• Concrete pit or vault
• Open hole in the ground
• Unused electrical panel
• Electrical poles or lines
• Unused windmill
• Small building to house a well
• Plywood or metal plate on the ground
If you think there may be an abandoned
well on someone's property, report it!
Call the Monterey County Division of
Environmental Health at (831) 755-4507.
If you have an abandoned well on your
own property, destroy it!
Contact a C57-licensed contractor (well
driller) to arrange for its destruction. Only
a C57-licensed contractor is allowed to
destroy a well in Monterey County. Before
starting work, a well destruction permit
must be obtained from the Monterey
County Division of Environmental Health.
Call the Monterey County Division of
Environmental Health at (831) 755-4507
for further information.
To view the flyer regarding abandoned wells, click here. To learn more about the grant, click here (PowerPoint Slideshow).
The Department has been and will continue to be offering training opportunities for abandoned well management to well drilling contractors, water purveyors, personnel from State and other County agencies and the general public to illustrate the hazards associated with abandoned wells and how to properly destroy them. Call the Department at (831) 755-4507 for information on the procedures required and a list of area contractors.
