Abandoned Well Program

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

In November 2009, the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department (EMD) implemented a program to identify and properly close abandoned, unused water wells. Such wells may be conduits for groundwater contamination; many older hand-dug wells and open casings pose a physical falling-in hazard. After performing extensive public outreach, through January 2011 field staff identified over 400 abandoned wells, mostly in rural areas of the County. It is the property owner’s responsibility to properly close abandoned wells. Approximately 40 abandoned wells have been destroyed as a result of program implementation; others have inactivated (surface seal only) under permit pending ultimate resolution. Properly sealing abandoned wells protects groundwater quality and mitigates safety hazards. Further, because of the County’s outreach efforts, the public has become more aware of the presence and potential liabilities of abandoned wells. This awareness has resulted in substantial savings to prospective property buyers, especially in cases of foreclosed and/or bank-owned properties where the buyers and sellers may be unaware of the existence of abandoned wells.