Introduction Ground water is a vital resource in our state.
Many citizens drink ground water and use it in their homes.
The state of Washington currently classifies all of its ground water as a potential source of drinking water, which is the highest beneficial use. One type of well, called an injection well, emplaces fluid into the ground. The threat posed to ground water quality varies markedly, and depends mostly upon the volume and nature of the fluids injected, well construction, and the hydrogeologic setting. Most injection wells in Washington are relatively simple devices used to emplace fluids into the shallow subsurface under the force of gravity. They are used to release or dispose of fluids underground.