The dry well that six-year-old Zhao Zicong fell down in Baoding, north China's Hebei Province. The boy was found dead after search and rescue teams had spent 107 hours looking for him. [Photo: Hebei Daily]

On Nov. 6, Zhao Zicong, a young Chinese boy, fell down a 40-meter dry well while helping his father harvest vegetables in the village of Zhongmengchang in Hebei province. The boy was found dead after search and rescue teams had spent 107 hours looking for him.

The county government has launched an investigation into all dry wells in Lixian. However, the boy's death has already sparked an outcry across the country. Who should be responsible for abandoned dry wells? The local departments of water resources, agriculture, and housing construction and urban-rural development all said that the wells are not in their domain, Hebei Daily reported on Nov. 14.

The northern and eastern regions of China have long experienced water supply issues, with underground water levels dropping to alarming lows in many areas. As a result, many wells have been abandoned as residents are forced to dig deeper for water. Indeed, almost every village in Hebei has abandoned wells. Most such wells have been filled in. However, there are still many unfilled ones hiding behind weeds or tall crops, creating a serious safety hazard.

But who should be responsible for the abandoned wells?

According to Li Baozan, an official in the Hebei village of Nanqingtong, a 4-year-old boy fell into an abandoned dry well in the village three years ago. That boy was ultimately rescued, but the village has attached great importance to the management of wells ever since. All abandoned wells in Nanqingtong have been filled. Wells that are still in use have been covered with heavy boards or even abandoned bathtubs.

"It is clearly stipulated in our village that the farmers who use the well should be responsible for its maintenance once it is abandoned," said Li.

Most people interviewed said that the safest form of maintenance is simply to fill in abandoned wells in a timely manner.

"No policy clearly states that the department of water resources is responsible for managing [the dry wells]. The owner of the wells should bear responsibility," said an employee of the Department of Water Resources of Hebei province.

Hebei's Department of Agriculture has also made it clear that the abandoned wells are not their job to safeguard.

"Our management domain does not cover dry wells; we recommend that you ask the agriculture and water resources sectors," the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development answered when asked who bears responsibility.

Even the local government has little helpful advice. Sun Xiutian, an elderly man in Baoding, lost his wife six years ago when she fell into a dry well. He was told by a local official that the owner of the well was responsible, and the government had no budget for filling in wells or installing warning markers.

One thing remains clear: relevant sectors should take these "human-eating wells" seriously, and make it clear to whom their maintenance is entrusted.