Under what circumstances should a contaminated well be abandoned?

A contaminated well should be abandoned when sources of pollution are not found and removed. This fits the principle of safeguarding public health and the environment. If contaminants are present and the source cannot be identified and eliminated, the ongoing risk of ingesting unsafe water makes it prudent to abandon the well.

Abandoning a contaminated well prevents further use and helps avoid potential health risks associated with consuming water that may lead to illness or disease. Continuing to use a well that is known to be contaminated, despite the potential for remediation, poses a significant risk to users, making it essential to prioritize safe water sources.

The other options do not present valid reasons for abandoning a well. For instance, the depth of the water or its hardness does not inherently relate to contamination and therefore would not justify abandonment. Additionally, the status of nearby wells, unless proven to be a direct influence on the particular well’s contamination, is not a sufficient reason alone to abandon a well.