08/26/2026
DID YOU KNOW THERE WERE THIS MANY WELLS BENEATH YOUR FEET? đź‘€
Every black and white marker you see on this map represents a documented Treasure Valley well in the Idaho Department of Water Resources database. And when you zoom out across the Treasure Valley, the sheer number of them is pretty incredible.
But this map only shows the wells we know about.
There are older wells throughout the valley with incomplete records, inaccurate locations or very little documentation at all. That becomes increasingly important as Idaho continues to grow and more agricultural ground, rural properties and older homesites are developed.
According to the latest U.S. Census estimates, Idaho has experienced the highest cumulative population growth of any state in the country since 2020, growing 9.8%. Ada and Canyon counties have added more than 150,000 residents since the 2020 Census.
That growth means a whole lot of dirt is being moved.
New subdivisions. Commercial developments. Roads. Utilities. Infrastructure.
And the wells that once served farms, homes and irrigation systems don’t disappear when the land changes hands. They’re still beneath the ground, and sometimes nobody knows they’re there until an excavator finds one.
That’s why we encourage developers, contractors and property owners to identify existing wells before grading, demolition or excavation begins.
An old well cannot simply be buried and built over. Wells must be properly abandoned by a licensed well driller to permanently seal the well and protect Idaho’s groundwater.
The IDWR Wells & Groundwater Management Map is one of the first tools we use when researching a property, but it doesn’t tell the entire story. With this many documented wells beneath one of the fastest-growing areas in the country, doing a little research before the heavy equipment starts moving can prevent a much bigger problem later.
Take a look at the map and zoom into your neighborhood.
You might be surprised by just how many wells are beneath your feet.
HYDRO DRILLING
Treasure Valley’s Well Abandonment Kings
