WorldWide Drilling Resource

15 MARCH 2021 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Environmental Monitoring by Thomas Kwader, Ph.D., P.G. Owner, Qwater Well Developer and WorldWide Drilling Resource® Hydrogeologist The Time has come to Properly Abandon Shallow, Large-Diameter Wells Lately there have been a lot of news stories about people, including children, falling into shallow, large-diameter wells. Once a child has fallen even a few feet down into a well, it can be extremely difficult to safely rescue the child from the snug-fitting well. Even though the depth is often less than a few dozen feet, the removal of a person out of an 8 to 20-inch borehole can be extremely physically challenging - not to mention the emotional trauma inflicted on the individual and everyone involved. A little history - Shallow hand-dug wells were once common where shallow water tables were encountered just a few feet below land surface. The water in these wells was often extracted with a bailer, bucket, or pitcher-type pump. Many of these wells were left unused and covered by wooden boards that rotted from age and now act as a “trap” for folks walking or playing in the area. Some well locations have been forgotten. In most cases, these wells no longer serve their intended purpose, or the land could have changed hands and the wells were never properly abandoned. If the open well is still serving a purpose, a replacement well can be installed with a screen and pump in a safe setting, removing the safety hazard. Otherwise, the well needs to be properly abandoned. Abandonment methods vary from state to state, so check with your state’s regulators for guidance. Generally, the borehole should be filled from bottom to top with an inert, nonpolluting, flowable substance (clay, mud, etc.). As members of the well drilling profession, we owe it to ourselves to protect people from harm and encourage others to do so as well. Even if we are not “responsible” for a well that may be hazardous, we should be proactive. We should work to educate the public on well abandonment and how to identify potential shallow, large-diameter wells in need of abandonment. Tom Tom Kwader may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com ENV

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