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Palm City, FL · Licensed Contractor

Artesian Well Abandonment & Plugging

Cap an abandoned or free-flowing well the right way, and protect Florida's groundwater.

Call 888-493-0984 No Water? Emergency Help

What We Do

Why an Abandoned Artesian Well Has to Be Plugged

An old artesian well that no longer serves a purpose isn't just sitting there harmlessly. A free-flowing or deteriorating well wastes water every day and can let poor-quality water move between aquifer layers, straight into the groundwater your neighbors drink. Brent Pump Works is a state licensed well drilling contractor, and we permanently plug and abandon artesian wells across the Treasure Coast, to state specifications, protecting both your property and the aquifer underneath it.

What Is an Artesian Well?

An artesian well is drilled into an aquifer where the underground water is under enough pressure to rise up inside the well on its own. When that pressure pushes water all the way to the surface without a pump, it's called a free-flowing well. Many of these wells were drilled decades ago for farming, livestock, or irrigation and have long since been forgotten. Left uncontrolled, they can flow continuously, day and night, for years.

The Problem with Uncontrolled Wells

Water waste: A single free-flowing well can pour many thousands of gallons a day onto the ground for no purpose.
Saltwater intrusion and aquifer mixing: Older free-flowing wells often reach a deeper part of the aquifer that can be higher in salinity. As the well casing corrodes, that saltier or poorer-quality water migrates upward into the fresher zones used for drinking water.
Contamination pathway: A deteriorated or open well is a direct conduit for surface pollutants to reach the aquifer, bypassing the natural layers of soil and rock that would otherwise filter them.
Safety: An open or uncapped well is a genuine hazard to people, pets, and livestock.

Properly plugging the well shuts all of that down at once.

Our Process

How We Plug and Abandon a Well

Proper abandonment is more than pouring concrete down a hole. Our process follows the method the state and the water management districts require:

Site visit and well inventory

Locate and assess the well

Coordination with landowner and water management district

Where a program applies, coordinate with the appropriate agency

Downhole evaluation

Geophysical logging or camera inspection where needed, to understand the well's construction

Permitting

Secure permits through the appropriate agency

Permanent sealing

Pump cement grout through a pipe lowered to the bottom of the well, filling it until grout returns to the surface

Cut the casing

Cut the casing off below ground so the well is fully retired

Depending on the depth and condition of the well, many abandonments are completed in a single day.

State Specifications

Florida Law on Artesian Wells

Florida law requires the owner of a flowing artesian well to control its discharge, using a valve or other flow-control device, and to limit the flow to only what's needed for an intended use. When a well can no longer be controlled, because the valve has failed or the casing has deteriorated, the law requires that it be permanently plugged. As a licensed contractor, we handle abandonment to the state's and the water management district's specifications, and we take care of the permitting.

Not Every Old Well Needs Abandoning

If a well has slowed down or stopped producing, that doesn't always mean it's done. Sometimes the right answer is well rehabilitation, restoring the well rather than retiring it. We'll evaluate the well honestly and tell you which path makes sense. If it truly is at the end of its life, we plug it correctly. If it can be saved, we save it.

Water Management District Programs

Florida's water management districts run programs to help owners plug eligible abandoned free-flowing wells, and in some cases they cover part or all of the cost. We'll help you determine which district applies and whether your well qualifies for assistance before any work begins.

Since 1982, the St. Johns River Water Management District alone has plugged or capped more than 2,700 abandoned wells, with potential water savings on the order of 745 million gallons a day.

Do You Have One?

Signs You May Have an Abandoned or Free-Flowing Well

Water seeping or flowing at the surface with no apparent source
An old capped or open pipe on property that was once farmed or ranched
A well you no longer use since changing your water source or buying the property
A former irrigation or livestock well that still flows or leaks
Wet, boggy ground or mineral staining around an old wellhead

If any of that sounds familiar, it's worth having the well evaluated.

Report a Free-Flowing Well Today

If you've got an old artesian well flowing or leaking on your property, don't leave it. Contact Brent Pump Works for an honest evaluation. We'll tell you whether it can be rehabilitated or should be plugged, handle the permitting, and retire it the right way.

Call 888-493-0984 Emergency Help

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I required to plug an old artesian well on my property?

Florida law requires owners of flowing artesian wells to control the discharge, and to permanently plug a well that can no longer be controlled because of a failed valve or deteriorated casing. If you have a free-flowing or abandoned well, it needs to be properly retired. We handle the evaluation, permitting, and plugging to state specifications.

How is an artesian well plugged?

A well is plugged by pumping cement grout through a pipe lowered to the bottom of the well, filling it from the bottom up until grout reaches the surface, then cutting the casing off below ground. This permanently seals the well so it can no longer flow or act as a pathway between aquifer layers. It has to be done by a licensed well contractor.

Why is plugging an abandoned well so important?

An uncontrolled well wastes water constantly and, as its casing corrodes, lets saltier or contaminated water migrate into the fresh aquifer that supplies drinking water. In coastal South Florida, that contributes to saltwater intrusion. Plugging the well stops the water loss and closes off the contamination pathway in a single, permanent fix.

Will the water management district pay to plug my well?

Sometimes. The water management districts run cost-share and assistance programs for eligible abandoned free-flowing wells, and terms vary by district and change over time. Your county determines which district applies. We'll help you find out which program covers your property and whether your well qualifies before we start.

How do I know if my well is "artesian" or free-flowing?

An artesian well taps an aquifer under enough pressure that water rises inside the well on its own. If water reaches the surface and flows without a pump, it's free-flowing. Telltale signs are water seeping or running at an old wellhead, or a legacy farm or irrigation well that still leaks. We can confirm it with a site evaluation.

How long does it take to abandon a well?

Many well abandonments are completed in a single day, depending on the depth and condition of the well and the permitting involved. Deeper or more complex wells can take longer. After we inspect the well and confirm the plugging method, we give you a clear timeline before any work begins.

Can an old well be saved instead of plugged?

Sometimes. A well that has slowed or stopped producing can occasionally be restored through well rehabilitation rather than abandoned. We evaluate the well honestly and recommend the path that actually fits its condition. If it can be brought back, we rehabilitate it. If it's truly at the end of its life, we plug it correctly.

Do you handle the permits for well abandonment?

Yes. As a licensed well drilling contractor, we handle the abandonment permitting through the appropriate agency and coordinate with the water management district where a program applies. You don't have to navigate the paperwork or the regulations. We keep the entire abandonment compliant and documented.

Where We Work

Artesian Well Abandonment Service Areas

Martin County Well Abandonment → St. Lucie County Well Abandonment → Palm Beach County Well Abandonment →

Serving the Treasure Coast and All South Florida

Brent Pump Works provides artesian well abandonment, plugging, and capping to property owners across the Treasure Coast, including Martin County, St. Lucie County, and Palm Beach County. We're a family-owned, licensed well contractor that has worked these aquifers for over 20 years, and artesian well plugging and abandonment is one of our specialties. Call 888-493-0984 to report a free-flowing well or schedule an evaluation.

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