Well Decommissioning
Also known as plugging a well or sealing a well. If you have a well on your property and don't plan to use it, you must decommission it. Whether your well is in Sudbury, Lively, Chelmsford, Val Caron, Hanmer, Garson, Espanola or the greater area, give us a call and we'll be happy to help.
Decommissioning a well means to permanently fill in and seal the well, eliminating the well as a water source. It is vital that any well not being used, regardless of how old it is, be decommissioned for two reasons. One reason is proper well decommissioning helps maintain and protect the security and quality of the groundwater in our area. Also, an abandoned well or improperly decommissioned well is a safety hazard to humans and wildlife that can cause severe injury or even death. Having the well adequately filled and sealed eliminates risk on your property.
Here at Rhude Well Drilling, we are a professionally certified, licensed water well contractor. You will have peace of mind that your job will be done right. We will also reduce your environmental liability and increase your property value.
To better understand your responsibilities as the owner of an abandoned well and learn more about the decommissioning process, contact us today.
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Why use bentonite when sealing a well?
Bentonite creates an effective sanitary seal because it swells on contact with water providing a self-sealing, low-permeable barrier. Bentonite will prevent possible contaminants from seeping into the old well and down into the natural water source.
Is it safe for me to seal my own well?
Some feel that filling in a well hole with dirt is enough to decommission a well. However, this leaves our natural water source very vulnerable. When a well is drilled, the drill goes through many different formations below the ground. Dirt will not hold because it is unconsolidated material creating the potential for seepage and contamination.
Deciding to put a cover over the top of a well also falls short. Materials such as wood or concrete can break down over time and create the danger of collapsing later. Not to mention, it is still an open, direct route to the groundwater that is supplying water to the surrounding area. The potential for contamination will not be eliminated.
Properly plugging a well can be a complicated procedure. Many potential hazards exist for you as you try to seal your well, especially with flowing wells, wells that are contaminated or contain obstructions, small diameter wells in high-risk areas like barnyards and septic fields and deep wells containing large volumes of water. We have the equipment, experience and expertise that will significantly minimize a hazardous working environment.
What is an abandoned well?
A water well is considered abandoned when it is:
• not in use and is not intended to be used in the future for water supply
• is no longer being maintained with annual chlorination treatments
• is in a poor state of repair and the pumping equipment has been removed or cannot be repaired or replaced
• unable to produce water and no longer an asset to the property