Over the last couple of years, Sacramento County's Abandoned Well Program has located more than 500 abandoned wells….and it expects to find at least 500 more. Derek Jacks is with the program. He says humans and animals can fall into wells…and:
"Wells that are open have the potential to be conduits for pollutants to contaminate our water."
Jacks says there are wells in both urban and rural areas. He's found a significant number in Elk Grove. Jacks says property owners - and buyers - should check for wells:
"When they purchase a property with an existing abandoned well, they receive the responsibility to address that well, and it can cost quite a bit of money to destroy a well."
Jacks says the cost of destroying a well can run into the tens
of thousands of dollars.