Well Abandonment

Water wells are a direct conduit to our groundwater. When old water well is not in use, it must be properly abandoned in order to prevent any potential contaminants from entering the well and reaching our groundwater. County Code 52 requires any water well that has not been in use for over 1 year to be abandoned.

A permit from the Department of Health is required to abandon a well and the abandonment must be done by a well-driller registered with Saint Joseph County. The well-driller must call the Department of Health at least (2) two hours prior to abandoning any well and provide an opportunity for a Department of Health inspector to be present while the well is being abandoned.