The Middle Republican Natural Resources District is responsible
for the protection of the natural resources
and assists landowners in planning, funding,
and applying conservation practices.
Abandoned
Well Program
What is an Abandoned Well?
According to state regulations, an abandoned
well is "any water well, the use of which has been accomplished
or permanently discontinued." Basically this means any well
that is no longer being used and is not being maintained. State
law requires that an abandoned well must be sealed, or "decommissioned,"
according to Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services regulations.
There is estimated to be more than 150,000 abandoned wells in Nebraska.
Wells that are not decommissioned pose a major
safety hazard to children and animals. They can fall into an unsealed
well and become trapped. Remember the little girl that fell into
a well in Texas? This was an example of a well that was abandoned
but not decommissioned. Fortunately this story had a happy ending,
but many do not. Abandoned wells can also channel pollutants directly
into the ground water supply, which most Nebraskans rely on for
drinking water.
A well is considered "decommissioned"
when all of the equipment has been removed and the well casing has
been filled and sealed. The figure to the right is an example of
how to properly decommission a well. If you are interested in decommissioning
a well simply contact a well driller in your area. They are familiar
with the materials needed as well as the regulations required by
the state to complete the job.
To apply for cost-share assistance contact the
Middle Republican NRD office to get the process started.
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What
is a Decommissioned Well?