CEHA role includes identifying abandoned wells that need to be sealed.

• A. Identifying abandoned wells that need to be sealed.
• B. Constructing new wells for public supply.
• C. Drilling for oil.
• D. Replacing wells with groundwater wells.

Answer: (A)

Protecting drinking water and preventing contamination is a core duty of environmental health professionals. Abandoned wells can act as direct pathways for surface contaminants to reach groundwater or allow vertical movement of pollutants, so identifying wells that need to be sealed is a preventive action to safeguard public health. CEHA roles include surveillance, risk assessment, and enforcement to ensure such hazards are addressed, making this task a natural fit.

Constructing new wells for public supply, drilling for oil, or replacing wells with groundwater wells involve engineering, construction, or resource extraction activities that require specialized licenses and different agencies. Those tasks are outside the typical environmental health scope, which is focused on prevention, protection, and regulation to keep water supplies safe.