Florida abandoned wells belong in the water file

An old well pipe in a Florida yard can be easy to miss.

Some old wells are no longer used. Others can waste water or let poor water move between underground layers. Free-flowing artesian wells need special care because state law does not allow them to waste water.

Still, an old or capped pipe is not automatically an abandoned well. Its build, condition, and planned use all matter. That is why a well belongs in the home file, especially on rural land, former farmland, lake property, or an older lot outside city water service.

Before sealing, filling, or ignoring one, call the water management district or local permit office for the address. Closing a well generally needs a permit and a licensed water-well contractor. A bag of concrete poured into an unknown pipe is not the same thing.

Ask whether the well is active, capped, properly closed, permitted, or simply unknown. If you are buying, keep its records, water tests, permits, and closing papers with the survey and septic file.