Abandoned Wells Pose Hazard

In the last 100 years, Nebraskans have dug or drilled thousands of wells for irrigation, livestock and domestic purposes.

Few of these were properly abandoned when their usefulness was exhausted, meaning that literally thousands of these abandoned wells are direct pipelines into the groundwater supply. Estimates of the number of abandoned wells in Nebraska range from 10,000 to 100,000.

Abandoned wells are often found near gardens, fields or sites where harmful contaminating sediment, chemicals or waste can enter the well. Animals also can fall into these wells and cause water contamination. Large well casings and hand-dug wells are especially hazardous. All of us can probably recall stories in the news of people falling into an unprotected well and being trapped for long periods of time.
Properly plugging abandoned wells takes time and money, but cost-share programs may be available from local Natural Resources Districts.

To learn more about abandoned wells, contact a University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension office to obtain "Guidelines for Decommissioning Water Wells" (UNL Conservation and Survey Division Misc. Pub. No. 31) or your local natural resource district water professionals or state or county health departments.