WELL DESTRUCTION & ABANDONMENT

Well Destruction & Abandonment

Selling a property, closing out an old well, or working through a county requirement? We properly destroy and abandon unused wells to state and county standards, with the permitting and documentation handled. Family-owned and licensed, serving the Sacramento Valley.

Call Now

Get A Free Estimate

When a Well Needs to Be Destroyed

An unused well doesn't just sit there harmlessly. Until it's properly destroyed, it stays a liability. You typically need well destruction when:

You're selling a property and an inspection or title review flagged an old well
The county has notified you that an unused well must be destroyed
You've drilled a new well and the old one has to be legally closed out
A well on the property is dry, collapsed, or no longer usable
You're developing or subdividing land with an abandoned well on it
You've inherited or purchased a property with an old well of unknown condition

If the old well still has life in it, destruction may not be your only option — cleaning and rehabilitation can sometimes restore a declining well. See our Well Cleanout & Rehabilitation page, or call (530) 565-3871 and we'll tell you honestly which makes sense.

Why Proper Destruction Matters

An abandoned well is an open pathway straight down into the groundwater everyone in the area drinks. Destroying it correctly protects more than your paperwork:

It Protects the Groundwater

An unsealed well lets surface runoff, chemicals, and contaminants travel directly into the aquifer — bypassing all the natural filtration that would normally protect it.

It's a Safety Hazard

Open or deteriorating wells are a physical danger to people, livestock, and equipment on the property.

It's a Legal Requirement

Unused wells are required to be destroyed to state and county standards. An improperly abandoned well stays your responsibility until it's done right.

It Can Hold Up a Property Sale

An undestroyed well is a common closing delay. Getting it handled properly — with the permit and documentation — keeps your transaction moving.

How We Destroy a Well

Proper destruction isn't filling a hole with dirt. It's sealing the entire well so nothing can travel down it again — and documenting that it was done to standard.

Site Assessment

We locate and evaluate the well, check its depth and condition, and determine what the destruction will require.

Permitting

We handle the county permitting so the destruction is authorized and on record before any work begins.

Clearing & Preparation

We remove the pump, piping, and any obstructions from the well so it can be sealed properly from the bottom up.

Sealing the Well

We fill and seal the well with the proper sealing materials to state and county standards, closing off any pathway to the groundwater.

Surface Completion & Documentation

We finish the surface, and you get the documentation showing the well was destroyed properly — which is what your county, lender, or title company will want to see.

Why Property Owners Call DNA

We handle the permitting and paperwork, so you're not chasing the county while a sale sits on hold.
We do it to standard. Proper sealing, properly documented — not a shortcut that comes back on you later.
We're well drillers, so we know how these wells were built and how to close them correctly.
Licensed and family-owned. CA Lic. #1108209, run by Aaron and David Ratti.
Local to the Valley. We work with Sacramento Valley counties and know what they require.

What to Expect

Tell us about the well. Call (530) 565-3871 with the property location and whatever you know about the well — even if that's very little.
We assess the site. We locate the well, check its condition, and determine what the job requires.
Permitting and scheduling. We handle the county permit and get you on the schedule.
Destruction. We clear the well, seal it to standard, and complete the surface.
Documentation. You get the records showing the well was properly destroyed.

Serving the Sacramento Valley

Based in Yuba City, DNA Well Drilling destroys and abandons unused wells in Yuba City, Marysville, Sutter, Gridley, Colusa, Oroville, Plumas Lake, Sacramento, and Roseville — plus the surrounding rural and agricultural areas.

Well Destruction FAQs

Do I have to destroy an old well on my property?

Unused wells are required to be properly destroyed to state and county standards. It commonly comes up during a property sale, a county notice, or after a new well is drilled to replace the old one.

Can't I just fill it in myself?

No. Proper destruction means sealing the entire well with approved materials under a county permit, so nothing can travel down it into the groundwater. Filling it with dirt or debris doesn't meet the standard and leaves the liability with you.

Do you handle the permits? Body text: Yes. We handle the county permitting and give you the documentation showing the well was destroyed properly.

My property sale is being held up by an old well. How fast can this happen?

Call us and we'll get you assessed and on the schedule. Permitting timelines vary by county, but we know the process and keep it moving so your closing isn't waiting on us.

I don't know where the well is or how deep it goes. Is that a problem? It's common, especially on older or inherited property. We locate the well and assess its depth and condition as part of the job

What if the old well could still be used?

Sometimes a declining well can be restored instead of destroyed. If that's an option for you, we'll say so — see our Well Cleanout & Rehabilitation page.