Abandoned Wells
Abandoned wells are a threat to well water and public safety. Abandoned wells provide a direct channel for contaminants to pollute the aquifer below. Contaminants that enter a well are introduced directly into the aquifer with no opportunity for natural filtration by soils or geologic materials.
Abandoned wells also present the possibility that a humans or animals can fall into the unplugged wells and suffer injury or death. Texas law makes the landowner responsible for plugging abandoned wells and liable for any water contamination or injury.
- TGPC's "Landowner's Guide to Plugging Abandoned Water Wells"
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service's Abandoned Well Page
- The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service on-line Bookstore offers a number of publications on abandoned water wells such as "Plugging Abandoned Water Wells" (B-6238) and "Capping of Water Wells for Future Use" (L-5490). Free electronic downloads of these publications (add an "e" in front of the publication number) are also available after setting up an account.
- TDLR's Abandoned Water Well Resources
- TDLR's Water Well Drillers and Pump Installers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Abandoned or Deteriorated Wells
- TDLR's Well Construction and Plugging Specifications
- TDLR's Abandoned Well Determination Checklist
- RRC's Well Plugging Primer (PDF - Help with PDF) for oil and gas industry wells
Possible Funding Resources
- Technical and financial assistance are available to landowners to address resource concerns through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Water well decommissioning is an available conservation practice. For more information, please see their Well Decommissioning Conservation Practice Standard or contact a USDA NRCS conservationist at your local USDA Service Center.
- Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts provides contact information for member Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCDs), and GCDs with abandoned water well plugging programs are listed within the website’s GCD Index.
- Some Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCDs) have Abandoned Water Well Cost Share Plugging Programs
- GCD Plugging Program Information (2018 - PDF - Help with PDF)
