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Maintaining Your Well
Follow the tips below to keep you and your family healthy by caring for your drinking water. You can also find more information by visiting the following resources:
- PrivateWellClass.org's Help Center
- Department of Ecology's Information for Owners of Private Wells
Still have questions? Get technical assistance! Email SHD-EHQ@snoco.org
where is my well?
You can search for the location and records of wells by using the Department of Ecology's Well Report Viewer.
It is important to know the location of wells on your property so you can protect them from damage and easily inspect them. Take precautions if you don't know where a well is. It is possible to fall into an uncovered or damaged well. The opening might be overgrown or the cover could be damaged and break under added weight. When looking for wells, be safe and do not go out alone.
Note that wells constructed prior to 1973 may not have been recorded. Just because you don't see record of a well on your property doesn't mean there isn't one. If you find an old or abandoned well, it must be decommissioned (see the Abandoned Wells tab on this page for more info).
what type of well do i have?
There are two main types of wells: Dug wells and drilled wells. You should be able to tell which kind you have based on their appearance.
Dug wells
- Wider (roughly 3 feet across but can be larger)
- Lined with concrete tile
drilled wells
- Have a well casing that sticks up above the ground, roughly 6-inch-wide PVC or steel
- It will have at least one other pipe/casing connected to it (typically an electrical conduit)
- There is a transport pipe called a "pitless adapter" roughly 6-12 inches below ground which moves water to the house
how old is my well?
Check your records to learn how old your well is. Remember that wells dug before 1973 might not have been recorded. Older wells are more susceptible to contamination from surface water runoff. This is because they are more likely to have an issue with their surface seal. Wells drilled after 1990 are more likely to have an adequate surface seal.
Homebuyers and private wells
Are you considering buying a home that has a private well? There are no state or local well inspection requirements for real estate transactions that involve a property with an existing well. However, it is a good idea to learn as much as you can about the well so you can make an informed decision and be aware of any issues that exist before you buy. You can learn about a well through well inspections, water quality sampling, existing records, and seller's disclosures. For more info, see our handout for Homebuyers and Private Wells.
Check for signs of damage
Periodically inspect your well for signs of damage. Damage to your well can lead to contaminated water, so it is best to identify issues early and get them fixed. Below is a list of things to check:
- Check for leaks or cracks in the cap, seal, and area around the casing
- Make sure the access port is plugged
- Make sure the well cap is properly sealed. The well casing and lid should fit very snugly together and be watertight. Check for cracked, brittle, or deteriorated well cap seals.
- The well vent (if yours has one) should be inverted and screened. Check for holes or other signs of deterioration in the vent screen. These are primarily on drilled wells.
- The well casing should extend 1-2 feet above ground (or flood level)
If you notice any issues, review these simple fixes for wellhead openings to see if they'll solve the issue. Other issues may require you to contact a licensed well driller to make the repair. If you aren't sure what to do to fix your well, contact the Health Department.
protect your well
It's important to keep the area around your well free of potential contaminants. What happens above ground nearby can affect your well water below.
Fertilizers, Pesticides, and Chemicals
- Fertilizers and pesticides should not be stored or used within at least 100 feet of your well.
- Do not store any chemical products in a well house.
- Oil, gasoline, and household chemicals can seep into soil and contaminate the water. Make sure to dispose of hazardous waste properly.
For pest control, consider biodegradable products, physical barriers, beneficial insects, and companion planting. If chemicals are necessary, use them sparingly and install a backflow prevention device on hose bibs for mixing. Slow chemical movement into the soil and ground water by not overwatering the area surrounding your well.
livestock
- Animals and their enclosures should be kept at least 100 feet from a well.
- Manure storage should be kept at least 100 feet from a well.
surface water runoff
- Keep surface water runoff away from the wellhead, which should be upslope from or above potential sources of contamination.
- A curtain drain upslope can be installed to divert runoff.
new or replacement wells & septic systems
Contact the health department if you are going to install a new or replacement well or septic system. We will let you know the required permitting steps and help make sure contamination issues are avoided.
test your water
It is important to regularly test your well water to make sure it is safe to drink. For detailed information on testing your well water, see the Water Testing page.
Free Well assessments
The Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) offers free well assessments to private well owners. Your well must be in working condition and private in use to be eligible. Assessments are conducted on a first-come, first-served basis so long as funding and staff are available. Learn more about their well assessment service by visiting the RCAC Individual Well Program webpage or viewing their flyer.
keep records
It is a good idea to keep track of any records relating to your well, including repairs, pump tests, and water quality results.
abandonded wells & decommissioning
Wells that are abandoned can lead to contaminated groundwater and pose a safety risk to children, adults, and animals. Death or serious injury can occur from falling into a well. If you have an abandoned well on your property, it is a safety concern and you are required to decommission it. Well decommissioning is handled through Washington State Department of Ecology. To decommission a well, you must follow their requirements. The cost of decommissioning a well depends on its depth, diameter, and the geologic conditions in your area.
What is well decommissioning?
Decommissioning is the process of properly filling in or plugging a well. It prevents contaminants from getting into groundwater that active wells are still using, and it also prevents people and animals from falling into well openings. To safely decommission a well and make sure it is done correctly, the work must be completed by a licensed well driller. The decommissioned well is then recorded with the Department of Ecology so future property owners know where wells used to be.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE AN ABANDONED WELL?
Today, all new wells must be recorded with the Department of Ecology, however many older wells were dug before this requirement was put in place. You can search for recorded wells on your property by visiting the Department of Ecology’s Well Report Viewer. Just remember what you see on the map may not show the location of some older wells. On your property, you may find signs of an abandoned well such as:
- Pipes sticking out of the ground
- A steel, 6-inch wide well casing with no cap on it
- Old concrete or brick-lined structures such as vaults or pits
- Concrete tiles
- Depressions in the ground or lawn
- Old water system components such as pumps, plumbing, and pressure tanks
- Open space under pump house floors
- Wooden or cement hatch-like openings to vaults and wellheads
Abandoned wells may be found under porch steps, in basements, near cisterns and windmills, or in small building structures such as old pump houses, storage sheds, and detached garages. Hand dug wells can often be found in lowland areas near surface water.
take precautions
If you don't know where a well is, it is important to take precautions. There are many hazards to be aware of when looking for abandoned wells. Be safe and do not go out alone. Keep these dangers in mind if you come across or search for an abandoned well:
- Fall risk: It is possible to fall into an uncovered or damaged well. The opening might be overgrown, or the cover could be damaged and break under added weight.
- Oxygen & toxic gases: Well pits or other enclosed spaces housing a well can cause asphyxiation, death, or explosive conditions due to low oxygen levels and toxic gas build up. Do not enter these spaces. Find a professional who has proper equipment to safely investigate the well.
- Electric shock: If electrical equipment is still live in well pits that have been flooded, there is risk of electric shock.
learn more
Abandoned Wells - A Hidden Danger: To learn more about why abandoning wells is important, watch this video from the Washington State Department Of Ecology.
WAC 173-160-381: This section of the Washington Administrative Code details the state standards for decommissioning a well.
View this info about Abandoned Wells in a print-friendly format.