Napa County Municipal Code Art. IV Destruction of Abandoned Wells

A. The owner of any property shall be responsible for destroying any abandoned well located thereon. A well is considered to be abandoned when it has not been connected for service to any structure and/or not used for a period of one year. An abandoned well also includes a well which is in such a state of disrepair that no water can be produced.

B. The well will not be considered abandoned if all of the following occur: (1) the owner declares his or her intention to the director, in writing, to use such well again for supplying water or for other approved purposes, (2) the well has no defects in construction which would cause pollution or contamination to the ground water by surface water, (3) the well is covered with a safe well cover, (4) the well is marked so as to be clearly seen, and (5) the ground area surrounding the well is sloped away from the casing and kept clear of brush and debris.

(Ord. 1159 § 1 (part), 1999)

A. Prior to destroying a well, a detailed evaluation and report on the well shall be submitted to the director by a licensed well driller (as defined in Section 13.12.250). Such report shall indicate the type of well to be sealed, all known information of the geological conditions of the soil, and the methods and material to be used in the destroying and sealing process. The methods and materials used in destroying wells shall be such that the ground water is protected from pollution or contamination.

B. When a water well or an abandoned water well is to be destroyed, it shall be destroyed as follows:

1. Any obstructions in said well, including pipes, pump, etc. shall be removed when possible.

2. As much casing shall be removed as possible, but not less than three feet below grade or as determined by the director.

3. The well shall be filled with concrete, or "p" gravel to thirty feet or below the first impervious layer (if known), whichever is deeper. If the well is less than thirty feet deep, proceed to step 4.

4. Fill well with concrete, neat cement or sand-cement grout to surface.

5. The placement of the material shall be done in such a way as to assure a dense seal, free of voids, in order to exclude surface water. Gravity installation of sealant without the aid of a tremie or grout pipe shall not be used unless the interval to be sealed is dry.

C. For the destruction of monitoring wells, cathodic protection wells or exploratory holes, refer to Bulletin 74-90 for requirements.

(Ord. 1159 § 1 (part), 1999)

Other methods of destroying wells, including large diameter wells and wells considered to pose a higher degree of risk to the ground water, may be approved by the director if in his opinion an equivalent effect will result, and no contamination or pollution to the ground water will occur.

(Ord. 1159 § 1 (part), 1999)