Q & A:

Q: What is well decommissioning, abandonment, or sealing?

A: All three of these terms refer to the sealing and permanent closure of an inactive, abandoned, or unusable water well.

Q: What is the purpose of decommissioning a well?

A: According to the NJDEP, there are several reasons for decommissioning or abandoning a well:

• Eliminate physical hazard to people, animals, and farm machinery; and to prevent entry of animals, debris, or other foreign substances.
• Prevent contamination of groundwater by surface water inflow.
  
• Restore the natural hydrogeologic conditions, to the extent possible, by preventing vertical cross-contamination or commingling of groundwaters between separate water bearing zones.
  
• Eliminate the possibility of the water well being used for any other purposes.
  
• Allow future alternative use or management of the site.
  

Q: What is involved in this process?

A: The well is cleared of all pumping equipment, valves, pipelines, and debris and filled from the bottom to the top with the appropriate materials for the type of well.

Q: If I am told that I need my well sealed or decommissioned, who can I call?

A: When a well is no longer in use or is unusable, the New Jersey Department of Environmental protection requires that it be decommissioned by a licensed NJ well driller.