Well plugging and abandoned well decommissioning

Plugging an old water well costs far less than drilling a new one. The price depends on the well's depth, diameter, casing condition, and how easy it is to reach with our equipment, and larger, deeper, or obstructed wells take more work. Several Hill Country groundwater districts, including the Bandera County River Authority and General District, run cost-share programs that help cover plugging, and we can point you to the one for your area. Call us at (830) 816-3232 and we will measure the well and put a firm number in writing before any work begins.

Capping is temporary. A well that is still sound and might be used again can be fitted with a watertight cap that keeps contaminants out and cannot be removed by hand, and no state report is required for a cap. Plugging is permanent. An abandoned or deteriorated well is sealed from the bottom up with cement and bentonite so it can never channel pollution into the aquifer, and that work has to be filed with the state. Under Texas rules, a well that is deteriorated and likely to cause pollution must be plugged, not just capped.

The landowner of record is responsible for any abandoned or deteriorated well on the property, and that responsibility transfers to you when you buy the land. An unplugged well is a known safety hazard and a direct contamination path into the groundwater, and the owner can be held liable for it, so title companies and lenders often want it resolved before closing. If you have found an old or abandoned well on a property you own or are buying, call us at (830) 816-3232 and we will assess it and put a plan in writing.

A proper plugging fills the well from the bottom up with the right materials (usually cement grout, bentonite, or approved fill placed in the correct order) so that surface water and contaminants can never travel down into the aquifer. We clear any pump, pipe, and debris first, verify the depth, then place and seal the plugging materials to Texas standards and finish at the surface. The goal is a permanent seal that protects the groundwater everyone in the area shares, not just a cap over the hole.

Most residential wells are plugged in a single day once we are on site, though deeper or obstructed wells can take longer. In Texas, an abandoned or deteriorated well must be plugged by a licensed water well driller or pump installer, though a landowner may plug a well on their own property. The work is documented on the State of Texas Plugging Report, which we file with TDLR, with a copy to your local groundwater conservation district, within 30 days. We take care of the licensing and the paperwork so you have a clean record that the well was closed correctly.

Under Texas rules, a well that is no longer in use and not being maintained is considered abandoned or deteriorated and should be plugged. Warning signs include an open or loosely covered casing, a well that has gone dry or muddy, standing water around the casing, a collapsed or leaning structure, or a second well left behind after a new one was drilled. An open or failing well is both a safety hazard and a direct path for contamination into the aquifer, so it is worth addressing promptly.

Make sure the company holds a current Texas water well driller or pump installer license, since only a licensed contractor can legally plug a well and file the required state report. Ask whether they will inspect the well in person, provide a written quote, and give you documentation of the completed plugging for your records. TR Drilling and Service has served the Texas Hill Country since 1985, and we are happy to answer your questions at (830) 816-3232 before you commit to anything.