Arizona searches for wells to prevent a potential ‘Baby Jessica’ tragedy. Here’s what you can do

Crews are working to seal open water wells across Arizona to prevent a potential tragedy like 1987's "Baby Jessica."

Jessica McClure captured the nation's attention when she fell into a Midland,Texas, well when she was 18 months old. She spent two and a half days in the well that was 22 feet deep and only eight inches wide.

Wells in Arizona, by comparison, can be far deeper to hit water.

There is no formal tracking of the wells on private property.

Late last year, officials at the Arizona Department of Water Resources began taking inventory of open wells in the state and providing a temporary seal at the state's expense. The cost is low, apart from the hours spent driving to well sites and covering them.

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"There could be hazards even approaching some of these sites because the ground is crumbling," ADWR Ombudsman John Riggins said. "It's not just an open well."

Two big concerns about wells

For officials, there are two big concerns — keeping people from falling down the wells and keeping pollutants from falling in and contaminating the groundwater.

"Public safety is paramount," Riggins said. "And the threat of contamination — it's an open portal to the aquifer."

While some wells are shallow with water under the surface, some can reach 600 feet deep.

Making a database from scratch

Officials have so far identified 86 open wells, but there could be many more.

Until now, there hasn't been a central database of all the open wells in Arizona. Officials sometimes spot them while working in the field, but they mostly rely on landowners to call in and report open or abandoned wells on their properties.

"There's likely wells (across Arizona) that people will never find," said Scott Stuck, ADWR basic data unit supervisor.

Of the 86 identified, officials have permanently sealed 25 and temporarily sealed 42.

Have an open well? Here's what to do

ADWR will temporarily seal open wells for landowners who report them. From there, officials will refer landowners to certified companies that permanently seal wells.

The temporary seals were made by inmates through Arizona Correctional Industries, an Arizona Department of Corrections program that puts inmates to work.

If you have an unused well on your property, contact ADWR at 602-771-8500.

Reach reporter Joshua Bowling at jbowling@azcentral.com or 602-444-8138. Follow him on Twitter @MrJoshuaBowling.

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