Plenty of rural properties around Yuba City and Marysville have an old well somewhere on them. Sometimes it's a dry domestic well replaced years ago. Sometimes it's an irrigation well left behind when an orchard came out, or a casing sticking out of the ground behind a pump house that nobody has thought about in decades.
Most of the time, nobody worries about it until something forces the question: a sale, a new build, a switch to city water or an inspector who spots it. Here's what California requires, how proper well destruction works, and what to do if you're dealing with one.
When does a well count as abandoned?
Under California's well standards, a well that hasn't been used for a year is generally considered abandoned, unless the owner intends to use it again and keeps it properly maintained. An abandoned well has to be properly destroyed. That's a legal requirement, not a recommendation.
A well you plan to use again is considered inactive, and it has to be properly capped, secured and marked so it can't be tampered with or become a hazard.
Why California requires it
An old well is a direct pipeline from the surface into the groundwater. As casing corrodes and seals break down, runoff, fertilizer, pesticides and septic contamination can travel straight into the aquifer you and your neighbors drink from. An old well can also let water move between underground layers that should stay separated.
There's a safety side too. Open or poorly covered wells are a fall hazard for children and animals, and an old casing hidden in tall grass can be hit by equipment. An improperly abandoned well is a liability that stays with the land.
When this usually comes up
Selling a property. Buyers, inspectors and lenders often ask about wells. It comes up constantly on older homes in places like Marysville. Documentation that an old well was properly destroyed makes that conversation simple.
Drilling a replacement well. When a new well replaces an old one, the old well typically needs to be destroyed rather than left in place.
Connecting to city water. Once a home switches to a municipal supply, the old well often has no further use. We see this regularly on the rural edges of Sacramento.
Building or dividing land. Old wells turn up during construction and parcel splits. As land around Plumas Lake and Roseville is developed, old farm wells keep surfacing.
Removing orchards or changing land use. Irrigation wells left behind are common across the Sacramento Valley, especially around Gridley and Colusa.
How proper well destruction works
Step 1: Evaluate the well
Depth, casing, how it was built, and whether there's equipment or debris inside. If a well log exists, it helps. If not, the well can still be evaluated on site, and a downhole camera shows the casing and anything left inside.
Step 2: Get the county permit
Well destruction requires a permit from the county's environmental health department before work begins, and it has to be done by a contractor with a C-57 well drilling license. Permit review times vary by county, so start early if you're on a deadline.
Step 3: Remove equipment and clear the well
The pump, pipe, wiring and any debris are pulled so the well can be sealed completely. Obstructions left inside can leave gaps in the seal.
Step 4: Seal the well
The well is filled with an approved sealing material, such as neat cement, cement-based grout or bentonite, placed from the bottom up through a pipe so there are no voids. Depending on construction, the casing may need to be perforated so the space around it gets sealed too.
Step 5: Inspection, finishing and paperwork
The county may inspect the work. The casing is cut off below ground level, the surface is restored, and a report documenting the destruction is filed with the state. That paperwork is your proof, and it's what your title company will want.
Selling? Start early
Between evaluation, permitting and scheduling, well destruction takes some lead time. Starting as soon as you know about the well keeps it from holding up your closing.
Destroy it, or bring it back?
Not every old well needs to be destroyed. If it's structurally sound and you want to use it, it may be a candidate for well cleanout and rehabilitation. Some homeowners who switch to city water keep the old well for irrigation. If the old well is past saving and you still need water, the usual path is destroying it and drilling new: domestic wells for homes and agricultural wells for farms and ranches.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to destroy a well in California?
Yes. It requires a permit from your county's environmental health department, and the work must be done by a licensed C-57 well drilling contractor.
Is capping a well the same as destroying it?
No. Capping is for inactive wells you plan to use again. It doesn't seal the well against contamination. An abandoned well has to be fully destroyed.
How long does well destruction take?
The work itself is usually the shortest part. Permitting and scheduling take longer and vary by county.
What if I don't know where the old well is?
Look for a casing pipe, an old pump house or concrete pad, or a depression in the ground. Older property records and neighbors can help too. A well contractor can help locate and evaluate it.
Need an old well properly destroyed?
DNA Well Drilling & Pump Services is a family-owned, licensed California well drilling contractor (License 1108209) run by David and Aaron Ratti, with more than 20 years of experience. Based in Yuba City, we serve Yuba City, Marysville, Sutter, Gridley, Colusa, Oroville, Plumas Lake, Sacramento and Roseville.
Free estimates. Call (530) 565-3871 or request an estimate online.
Learn more about our well destruction and abandonment service.
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