Em4885 irrigation management practices to protect ground water

4 CHAPTER
IP 6.00.04 - Identify and Properly Seal All Abandoned
and Improperly Constructed Wells
Objective
Prevent an abandoned well from becoming a pathway for contamination of aquifers.
Description
Improperly abandoned wells can be a safety hazard as well as pose a direct path for
contaminants from the surface to an aquifer. There are specific regulations concerning
the proper abandonment of a well contained in WAC 173-160. Specific sections include:
WAC 173-160-085 - capping of abandoned or out-of-use wells
WAC 173-160-415 - abandonment of wells (general)
WAC 173-160-420 - abandonment of uncased wells
WAC 173-160-425 - abandonment of drilled or jetted wells
WAC 173-160-435 - abandonment of gravel-packed wells
WAC 173-160-445 - abandonment of artesian wells
WAC 173-160-455 - abandonment of dug wells
WAC 173-160-465 - abandonment of wells - plugging of test wells
WAC 173-160-560 - abandonment of resource protection wells
Proper abandonment of a well will prevent the well from being a path for contaminants to
travel from the surface to an aquifer. It will also prevent poor quality water from one
aquifer from migrating into better quality water of another aquifer.
Well abandonment should only be done by qualified and licensed contractors. Note that
the abandonment must be reported to the state.
A more detailed discussion of proper well abandonment can be found in WSU Cooperative
Extension publication EB1714, Abandoned Wells: Forgotten Holes to Ground Water,
(published August 1992).
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