Well Decommissioning
Well Decommissioning Requirements
Wells that are no longer used, needed, or have reached the end of their serviceable life, are required, by Washington state law, to be decommissioned by a licensed drilling contractor. Well decommissioning requirements apply to all types of wells including water wells, wells drilled for geotechnical purposes, and wells drilled for environmental testing, monitoring, etc. Well decommissioning requirements apply in all urban, suburban, and rural areas of Washington including Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Bellingham, Tacoma, Olympia, Yakima, Tri-Cities, and Spokane.
Stiff Penalties for Ignoring Well Decommissioning Requirements
Promptly and properly decommissioning wells protects people, animals, and aquifers. Because of the significant hazards posed by abandoned wells, heavy fines have been levied against individuals and companies who have not promptly decommission their wells. In 2015, the Washington State Department of Ecology imposed a $90,000 fine against a contractor for failing to properly decommission wells. The message from the State of Washington to contractors and well owners is clear: ignoring well decommissioning responsibilities can be costly.
It’s Easy to Have Your Wells Promptly Decommissioned
In addition to efficiently decommissioning your wells, we take care of all of the related permitting and paperwork and provide you with important documentation for your records. In the event that you receive a well decommissioning inquiry by the Department of Ecology, your office will have complete documentation of your compliance at your fingertips, including well logs and DOE well tags. Having your own copies of these important documents can help you avoid tedious searches or, worse yet, being required to drill out a decommissioned well in the event that the State of Washington’s records are incomplete.
Getting Started
We make it easy to decommission your water wells, geotechnical, environmental, and other wells. As soon as you contact us to schedule, we will apply for all the necessary permits and schedule our equipment and crews in order to promptly complete your well decommissioning. Well decommissioning can often be completed within five business days in urban, suburban, and rural areas in and around Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Bellingham, Tacoma, Olympia, Yakima, Tri-Cities, and Spokane.
Decommissioning services throughout: Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon.
Contact us today to talk with a well decommissioning specialist and schedule your well decommissioning projects.
Well monument
Well Decommissioning Information
- WAC 173-160-460 relating to geotechnical and environmental wells
- WAC 173-160-381 relating to water wells and dug wells
- Chapter 183104 RCW, well decommissioning must be done by a licensed well driller, per the Washington Well Construction Act
- Dept. of Ecology – Abandoned Wells: Problems and Solutions
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Practice Standard – Water Well Decommissioning Code 351