A Landowner's Guide Sarah L. Brichford and Gene A. Matzat, Department of Agronomy Terri Swoveland, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Water Old, unused water wells dot the Indiana landscape - an old windmill, a pit near an abandoned farmhouse or a pump standing in a field. Most rural residents still depend on ground water for their drinking water. Abandoned wells pose a potentially serious threat to ground water quality.
Wells connect the land surface and ground water.
Contaminants enter directly into the ground water without being filtered by the soil. Ground water is naturally protected by the filtering affect of soil. Abandoned wells act like a pipe connecting ground water to the soil surface. Surface runoff contaminated with sediment, bacteria or chemicals can enter ground water directly through an abandoned well. Abandoned wells are also a safety hazard for children and animals.