Abandoned Well Safety: Legal Requirements for Proper Sealing

Don't Just Fill It: The Legal and Environmental Imperative of Well Abandonment

That 36-inch concrete rim with water visible below isn't a landscape feature—it's a liability requiring professional attention.

Why DIY Filling Is Dangerous and Illegal

• Groundwater contamination: Rainwater carries surface pollutants directly into aquifer
• Physical hazard: Children and animals can fall in
• Legal requirement: Georgia law mandates licensed well driller for abandonment
• Liability: Property owner responsible for contamination or accidents

Proper Abandonment Achieves:

1. Restores protective barrier against groundwater contamination
2. Eliminates physical hazards
3. Restores land surface stability
4. Reduces legal liability
5. Protects property values

Required Process

A licensed well driller must:

• Remove pump and piping
• Clean the well casing
• Fill with approved sealing materials (bentonite, cement grout)
• Seal bottom and casing completely
• File abandonment report with Georgia EPD

Finding a Professional

Consult the Georgia EPD list of licensed well drillers or contact your county Extension office for referrals. Cost varies by depth and diameter but typically ranges $500-$2,000—a fraction of potential liability costs.