Who can make a difference?
- Farm and ranch residents
- Semi-rural residential neighborhoods
- Businesses beyond a public water system
- Irrigation well owners
- Public water systems using groundwater
- Anyone who owns land with an unused well on it, especially if they don't know it!
Properly constructed and maintained wells are typically not a risk to groundwater. However, some wells may serve as a direct pathway for contamination to reach groundwater. It is the responsibility of the well owner to inspect and properly maintain the well.
Wells holes are lined with a pipe called a casing. Well casing should:
- Have a water-tight cover
- Extend at least one foot above the land surface
- Be sealed with grout 18 feet deep or more
- Not have holes, cracks, or other damage
Unused wells are a serious risk. Oregon Water Resources Department requires that unused wells be properly "abandoned" -- a procedure to seal the well hole so that contamination cannot reach groundwater.
Accidental siphoning of contaminated water down a well, referred to as "backflow," is another risk to groundwater from wells.
Causes of groundwater contamination
- Old, improperly constructed, or poorly maintained wells
- Damage to casing grout seals
- Unused wells
- Backflow
What can you do?
Individual action
- Test your drinking water well every 1-3 years for nitrate and bacteria.
- Inspect your well annually and make repairs as needed.
- Clean out your well house--move hazardous materials at least 50 feet from the well.
- Make sure there is never any standing water around the top of the well.
- Locate and properly abandon unused wells on your property. (Are you absolutely sure there aren't any buried wells?)
- Install backflow prevention devices.
Community action
- Offer well water testing to the public.
- Educate rural residents about well maintenance.
- Support policies that encourage new development to use a public water system instead of many individual wells.
- Locate as many unused wells as possible.
- Secure funding to help with well repairs and abandonment for those who cannot afford it.
- If there are small public water systems in the area, promote training for the owner / manager.
- Work with well contractors and pump businesses to distribute information to their customers.
To learn more
OSU Extension
Service Well Water Program
OSU Extension
1849 NW 9th Street
Corvallis, OR 97330
Phone: 541-766-3549
E-mail: Melissa Fery or Chrissy Lucas
Oregon Water Resources Department
Phone: 503-986-0900
For information on proper construction and abandonment of wells: