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Sealing Unused Wells
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Unused wells that are not properly abandoned, or decommissioned,
can be a hazard. Along with potentially contaminating water
supplies, unused wells that are not sealed can be dangerous to
people and animals.
Wells can go unused for several reasons. The most common is that
the well no longer provides water to the home or homes it was
serving. Perhaps the well requires repairs that are not economically
feasible, or it was used for a service, such as water monitoring,
that is no longer needed.
Regardless of the reason for well abandonment, it is imperative
that unused wells are sealed by a professional contractor.
How Does It Work?
When sealing the well, the
contractor will first remove all of the equipment in the well, such
as pumps and pipes, so the well can be filled and sealed properly.
Usually, an attempt to also remove the casing, liners, and screens
will be made, but sometimes this is impossible to do.
The required material used in the sealing process varies from
state to state, but cement-bentonite or bentonite clay chips are
used frequently. For the best results, the contractor will carefully
seal the well from the bottom up, using a tremie pipe to assure
there are no air pockets.
How Can I Find Abandoned Wells?
Here are several clues to look for when searching your property
for unused wells:
- Pipes sticking out of the ground.
- Depressions in the ground.
- Small buildings that could have been a well house at one time.
- A concrete pit in the ground.
Why Should I Seal an Old Well?
Here are more
detailed reasons for sealing unused wells.
Direct
disposal of contamination
With rising disposal costs,
some individuals or companies may be tempted to dispose of waste
down unused wells, thinking, “The well isn’t used, so it won’t hurt
anyone.” However, that is far from the truth, as the potential for
harm is real. Having a properly sealed well doesn’t give those
individuals that opportunity.
Physical hazards
One of the most obvious
reasons for sealing an unused well is to prevent physical harm.
There have been national news stories through the years where young
children have fallen into abandoned wells that are 10 inches or less
in diameter. Small animals can fall into unused wells too, leading
to water contamination in nearby wells.
Water mixing between aquifers
It is necessary
to seal a well when water contamination is discovered in an area
where there are multiple-aquifer systems because the contaminated
water can migrate between the aquifers. This often occurs when a
second well is drilled to a lower aquifer after contamination is
discovered in the original, shallower well that has not been
decommissioned. The contamination from the first well can work its
way downward to the lower aquifer and impact the second well.
Contaminated water can also move between aquifers when a well is
improperly sealed. This is why it is important to always have the
work done by a professional contractor.
Where can I get more information?
For more
information on your private water well, contact Tunde Hussein:
Spectrum Geotechnical Services Ltd.
Silvershares Place Suite 8 & 9 Km 15 Lagos-Epe Expressway,
Jakande, Lekki Phase 1,
Lagos, Nigeria.
Tel: (234)
482-4966,434-7585
Mobile: (234) 803-344-4404, 803-302-4953
E-Mail info@spectrumgeotech.com
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