DEWATERING REPORT

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

SHEET 1 - INTRODUCTION
SHEET 2 - SUMP PUMPING
SHEET 3 - HORIZONTAL WELLPOINT AND DEEP WELL
SHEET 4 - WELLPOINT SYSTEM
SHEET 5 - EDUCTOR WELL AND RELIEF WELL

MANAS ARORA
3RD YEAR B
ROLL NO. 3
VASTU KALA ACADEMY

WHERE DOES WATER ACCUMULATE?

WHAT IS DEWATERING?

PRECAUTIONS DURING DEWATERING

THE PROCESS OF DEWATERING CAN BE DEFINED AS PUMPING

FROM WELLS OR SUMPS TO TEMPORARILY LOWER GROUNDWATER
LEVELS, TO ALLOW EXCAVATIONS TO BE MADE IN DRY AND STABLE
CONDITIONS BELOW NATURAL GROUNDWATER LEVEL
TO DEWATER MEANS TO REMOVE WATER FROM AN AREA.
IT IS USUALLY DONE AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE TO REMOVE SURFACE
WATER OR GROUNDWATER FROM IT.
ON CONSTRUCTION SITES IT MAY BE KNOWN AS CONSTRUCTION
DEWATERING. THE METHOD IS ALSO USED ON MINE SITES
MINE DEWATERING

PURPOSE OF DEWATERING
DURING CONSTRUCTION STAGE:DRY EXCAVATION.
PROCEED EFFICIENTLY.
REDUCE LATERAL LOADS.
IMPROVE CHARACTERISTICS OF FOUNDATION MATERIALS.
INCREASE STABILITY OF SLOPES AND SIDE-HILL FILLS.
PREVENT PIPING AND FROST HEAVING IN PAVEMENTS.

1.
2.
3.

POST CONSTRUCTION STAGE :REDUCE UPLIFT PRESSURES ON BOTTOM SLABS.

REDUCE LATERAL PRESSURES ON RETAINING STRUCTURES.
CONTROL EMBANKMENT SEEPAGE IN ALL DAMS.

THE QUICKEST WAY TO REMOVE ACCUMULATED WATER FROM A

CONSTRUCTION SITE IS THROUGH THE USE OF PUMPS
HOWEVER, DEWATERING IS NOT SIMPLY SUBMERGING THE
PUMP IN THE AFFECTED AREA AND LETTING THE WATER OUT
SOMEWHERE ELSE
THERE ARE PRECAUTIONS THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED TO ENSURE
THAT SOIL EROSION AND OTHER PROBLEMS ARE AVOIDED
ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT BUILDERS HAVE TO KEEP IN
MIND IS THAT THE LOCATION FOR THE DISCHARGED WATER
MUST BE CAREFULLY SELECTED.
IN MOST NATURAL SYSTEMS, WHERE GROUNDWATER CAN
FLOW MORE EASILY IN SOME DIRECTIONS THAN OTHERS, THE
CONE OF DEPRESSION WILL NOT BE A SYMMETRICAL FEATURE
THAT IS CIRCULAR IN PLAN. RATHER, IT WILL BE IRREGULAR,
EXTENDING MUCH FURTHER IN SOME DIRECTIONS THAN
OTHERS. IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES IT CAN MORE USEFULLY BE
REGARDED AS A ZONE OF INFLUENCE OF DEWATERING,
RATHER THAN A SIMPLE CONE OF DEPRESSION.

DEEP WELL

DEWATERING

DEWATERING IS ALSO DONE IN MINING EXCAVATIONS,

PARTICULARLY IN ROCK MINES AND BORROW PITS
IT IS ALSO CONDUCTED IN LAKE EXCAVATIONS FOR MAKING
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
INSTALLATION OF UTILITY LINES SUCH AS SEWERS, WATER,
TELEPHONE, AND ELECTRICITY ALSO REQUIRES DEWATERING

WATER CONTAMINATION

SPECIFICATIONS:

TYPES OF
DEWATERING
HORIZONTAL
WELLPOINT

OTHER APPLICATIONS

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

SUMP
PUMPING

THE TOP TWO REASONS FOR WATER ACCUMULATION ARE

1. RAIN
2. HIGH WATER TABLE
IN CONSTRUCTION SITES, WATER CAN ACCUMULATE IN
EXCAVATIONS AND TRENCHES, IN SLOPED AREAS, OR IF THE SITE
IS NOT LOCATED WITHIN AN AREA WITH A LOW WATER TABLE
ACCUMULATED WATER CAN BE A THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF
WORKERS WHO MAY SLIP AND INJURE THEMSELVES

WHICHEVER METHOD IS USED, THE EFFECT IS BROADLY THE

SAME, CREATING A CONE OF DEPRESSION IN THE WATER
TABLE, CENTRED ON THE EXCAVATION

WELLPOINT
SYSTEM

DEWATERING EXCAVATED AREAS MUST BE IN TWO DISTINCT

PHASES;
(1) THE REMOVAL OF THE COLLECTED WATER WITHIN THE
EXCAVATION.
(2) THE TREATMENT OF THE COLLECTED WATER.

EDUCTOR WELL

RELIEF WELL

BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION

SHEET NO.

DEWATERING AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE INVOLVES THE

RISK OF WATER BEING CONTAMINATED WITH GREASE AND
OIL
WATER CONTAMINATED WITH INDUSTRIAL GREASE MUST
NEVER BE DISCHARGED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT
BECAUSE IT MAY DAMAGE THE SOIL AND THE
SURROUNDING AREAS THAT HAVE VEGETATION.
IF THE ACCUMULATED WATER IS CONTAMINATED, AN OIL
AND WATER SEPARATOR MUST FIRST BE USED
ONCE SEPARATED, THE WATER CAN BE DISCHARGED AND
THE OIL CAN BE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY FOLLOWING THE
REGULATIONS

MANAS ARORA
3RD YEAR - B
VASTU KALA ACADEMY

SIGNATURE :

SUMP PUMPING

THE SIMPLEST FORM OF DEWATERING IS SUMP PUMPING, WHERE GROUNDWATER IS ALLOWED TO

ENTER THE EXCAVATION WHERE IT IS THEN COLLECTED IN A SUMP AND PUMPED AWAY BY ROBUST
SOLIDS HANDLING PUMPS.
WATER IS COLLECTED IN DEEPER PARTS OF THE EXCAVATION (CALLED SUMPS) AND PUMPED AWAY.
SIMPLE AND CHEAP METHOD OF DEWATERING IN FAVOURABLE GROUND CONDITIONS.
LIMITED TO USE IN RELATIVELY COARSE SOILS OR FISSURED ROCK IF USED IN FINE GRAINED SOILS CAN
LEAD TO EROSION AND LOSS OF FINES WITH THE RISK OF RESULTING INSTABILITY.
THE SUMP TAKES UP SPACE WITHIN AN EXCAVATION .
CAN LEAD TO WATER POLLUTION PROBLEMS DUE TO SILT-LADEN WATER.
TWO SIMPLE SUMPING DETAILS ARE SHOWN IN ABOVE FIGURES

GREATEST DEPTH TO WHICH THE WATER TABLE CAN BE LOWERED BY THIS

METHOD IS ABOUT 8 M BELOW THE PUMP.

A SUMP IS MERELY A HOLE IN THE GROUND FROM WHICH WATER IS BEING PUMPED FOR THE PURPOSE OF
REMOVING WATER FROM THE ADJOINING AREA.
THEY ARE USED WITH DITCHES LEADING TO THEM IN LARGE EXCAVATIONS.
UP TO MAXIMUM OF 8M BELOW PUMP INSTALLATION LEVEL; FOR GREATER DEPTHS A SUBMERSIBLE PUMP
IS REQUIRED.
SHALLOW SLOPES MAY BE REQUIRED FOR UNSUPPORTED EXCAVATIONS IN SILTS AND FINE SANDS. GRAVELS
AND COARSE SANDS ARE MORE SUITABLE.
FOR PROLONGED PUMPING THE SUMP SHOULD BE PREPARED BY FIRST DRIVING SHEETING AROUND THE
SUMP AREA FOR THE FULL DEPTH OF THE SUMP AND INSTALLING A CAGE INSIDE THE SUMP MADE OF WIRE
MESH WITH INTERNAL STRUTTING OR A PERFORATING PIPE FILLING THE FILTER MATERIAL IN THE SPACE
OUTSIDE THE CAGE AND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAGE AND WITHDRAWING THE SHEETING.

DEWATERING

ADVANTAGES:

DISADVANTAGES:

1. WIDELY USED METHOD.

2. MOST ECONOMICAL METHOD FOR
INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE.
3. CAN BE APPLIED FOR MOST SOIL AND ROCK
CONDITIONS.
4. MOST APPROPRIATE WHERE BOULDERS OR
MASSIVE OBSTRUCTIONS ARE MET WITH IN
THE GROUND.

1. DUE TO MORE FLOW OF GW TOWARDS

EXCAVATION RISK OF COLLAPSE OF SIDES
OCCURS.
2. IN OPEN OR TIMBERED EXCAVATIONS THERE
IS RISK OF INSTABILITY OF THE BASE DUE TO
SEEPAGE TOWARDS PUMPING SUMP.

BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION

SHEET NO.

MANAS ARORA
3RD YEAR - B
VASTU KALA ACADEMY

SIGNATURE :

HORIZONTAL WELLPOINT
HORIZONTAL WELLS FOR DEWATERING ARE OF TWO PRINCIPAL TYPES:
1.
2.

HORIZONTAL DRAINS INSTALLED BY SPECIALIST TRENCHING MACHINES.

HORIZONTALLY DIRECTIONALLY DRILLED (HDD) WELLS.

HORIZONTAL DRAINS INSTALLED BY SPECIALIST TRENCHING MACHINES

1. THIS TECHNIQUE USES A HORIZONTAL FLEXIBLE PERFORATED PIPE, PUMPED BY A WELLPOINT PUMP, TO LOWER
GROUNDWATER LEVELS.
2. THE PERFORATED PIPE IS INSTALLED BY A SPECIAL TRENCHING MACHINE.
3. ONE END OF THE PIPE IS UNPERFORATED AND IS BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE AND CONNECTED TO A WELLPOINT
SUCTION PUMP.
4. THE METHOD CAN BE VERY EFFECTIVE FOR DEWATERING LONG PIPELINE EXCAVATIONS.

HORIZONTALLY DIRECTIONALLY DRILLED (HDD) WELLS.

1. HDD WELLS ARE USED WHERE GROUNDWATER MUST BE ABSTRACTED FROM BENEATH INACCESSIBLE AREAS OR FROM
AREAS WHERE THE DISRUPTION ASSOCIATED WITH SURFACE DRILLING IS UNDESIRABLE.
THIS METHOD IS MORE CONVENIENT FOR THE CASE OF FISSURED ROCKS. THE WATER COLLECTED BY THE HORIZONTAL WALLS IS
PUMPED OUT OF THE SHAFT TO THE GROUND LEVEL WITH A RATE THAT GUARANTEES A WATER SURFACE BELOW THE DESIRED
LEVEL.
DRAWDOWN IS LIMITED TO 5 OR 6 M BELOW LEVEL OF PUMP DUE TO SUCTION LIFT LIMITS.
DEWATERING BY HORIZONTAL WELLS

DEEP WELL

WELLS ARE DRILLED AT WIDE SPACING (10 TO 60 M BETWEEN

WELLS) TO FORM A RING AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE EXCAVATION
AN ELECTRIC SUBMERSIBLE PUMP IS INSTALLED IN EACH WELL.
DRAWDOWN LIMITED ONLY BY WELL DEPTH AND SOIL
STRATIFICATION
SEVERAL WELLS ACTING IN COMBINATION CAN LOWER
GROUNDWATER LEVEL OVER A WIDE AREA BENEATH AN EXCAVATION.
BECAUSE THE TECHNIQUE DOES NOT OPERATE ON A SUCTION
PRINCIPLE, LARGE DRAWDOWNS CAN BE ACHIEVED, LIMITED ONLY BY
THE DEPTH OF THE WELLS, AND THE HYDROGEOLOGICAL
CONDITIONS.
THE WELLS ARE GENERALLY SITED JUST OUTSIDE THE AREA OF
PROPOSED EXCAVATION, AND ARE PUMPED BY ELECTRIC
SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS NEAR THE BASE OF EACH WELL. WATER
COLLECTION PIPES, POWER SUPPLY GENERATORS, ELECTRICAL
CONTROLS AND MONITORING SYSTEMS ARE LOCATED AT THE
SURFACE.
EFFECTIVE IN A WIDE RANGE OF GROUND CONDITIONS, SANDS,
GRAVELS, FISSURED ROCKS

DEWATERING BY DEEP WELLS

CONSTRUCTION OF DEEP WELLS

DEWATERING

BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION

SHEET NO.

MANAS ARORA
3RD YEAR - B
VASTU KALA ACADEMY

SIGNATURE :

WELLPOINT SYSTEM

A LINE OR RING OF SMALL DIAMETER SHALLOW WELLS (CALLED

WELLPOINTS) INSTALLED AT CLOSE SPACING (1 TO 3 M CENTRES)
AROUND THE EXCAVATION.
COMMONLY USED FOR DEWATERING OF PIPELINE TRENCHES
CAN BE A VERY FLEXIBLE AND EFFECTIVE METHOD OF DEWATERING IN
SANDS OR SANDS AND GRAVELS
DRAWDOWN LIMITED TO 5 OR 6 M BELOW LEVEL OF PUMP DUE TO
SUCTION LIFT LIMITS
INDIVIDUAL WELLPOINTS MAY NEED TO BE CAREFULLY ADJUSTED
(TRIMMING)

DETAIL OF WELL POINT

THE SYSTEM CONSISTS OF
VERTICAL WELL POINTS CONNECTED
THROUGH VERTICAL PIPES (RISERS).
THE RISERS DISCHARGE THEIR WATER IN
HORIZONTAL PIPES CALLED HEADERS. THE
RISER IS SURROUNDED BY A COARSE
SAND FILTER IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE
FLOW OF WATER TOWARDS THE WELL
POINTS.
THE HEADERS ARE CONNECTED TO THE
PUMP.
WHEN THE PUMP IS STRATED, THE WATER
RISES FROM THE WELL POINTS THROUGH
THE RISERS AND FROM IT TO THE
HEADERS AND FINALLY IS DISCHARGED
OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM TO COLLECTING
TANKS OR VEHICLES.

DEWATERING OF DEEP EXCAVATION

WHEN DEWATERING DEPTH GOES BEYOND
6M, IT IS RECOMMENDED TO CARRY OUT
THE WELL POINT METHOD IN PHASES.
THE DEEP WELL METHOD CAN ALSO
SUPPLEMENT THE WELL POINT METHOD
UNDER SUCH CONDITION.

DEWATERING TYPES

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

1.
2.

1. A LOWERING OF ABOUT 6 M IS
POSSIBLE, BEYOND WHICH EXCESSIVE
AIR REQUIRED, RESULTING IN THE LOSS
OF PUMPING EFFICIENCY.
2. IF LARGE GRAVEL, STIFF CLAY OR SOIL
CONTAINING BOULDERS IS AVAILABLE
THEN IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO INSTALL
WELL POINTS.

3.
4.

INSTALLATION IS VERY RAPID

REQUIRES REASONABLY SIMPLE AND LESS
COSTLY EQUIPMENT
WATER IS FILTERED HENCE NOT CARRIES SOIL
PARTICLES.
THERE IS LESS DANGER OF SUBSIDENCE OF THE
SURROUNDING GROUND THAN WITH OPENSUMP PUMPING

BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION

SHEET NO.

MANAS ARORA
3RD YEAR - B
VASTU KALA ACADEMY

SIGNATURE :

EDUCTOR WELL

THE SYSTEM WORKS BY CIRCULATING HIGH PRESSURE WATER (FROM A TANK AND SUPPLY
PUMPS AT GROUND LEVEL) DOWN THE WELL TO A SMALL-DIAMETER NOZZLE AND VENTURI
LOCATED IN THE EDUCTOR IN EACH WELL.
THIS GENERATES A VACUUM OF UP TO 9.5 M OF WATER AT THE LEVEL OF THE EDUCTOR. THE
VACUUM DRAWS GROUNDWATER INTO THE WELL FROM WHERE IT IS PIPED BACK TO GROUND
LEVEL VIA A RETURN RISER PIPE AND THENCE THROUGH THE RESERVOIR TANK BACK TO THE
SUPPLY PUMP FOR RECIRCULATION.
EDUCTORS ARE TYPICALLY USED TO HELP STABILISE THE SIDE SLOPES AND BASE OF
EXCAVATIONS IN SOILS THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DEWATER WITH WELLPOINTS OR DEEP
WELLS.
WELLS ARE DRILLED AROUND OR ALONGSIDE THE EXCAVATION.
SUITABLE WHEN WELL YIELDS ARE LOW. FLOW CAPACITY 30 TO 50 LITRES/MIN PER WELL.
DRAWDOWN GENERALLY LIMITED TO 25 TO 30 M BELOW PUMP LEVEL.

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

1.
2.
3.
4.

1. DRAWDOWN GENERALLY LIMITED TO 25

TO 30 M BELOW PUMP LEVEL.
2. SOME GROUTS ARE ONLY ABLE TO
REDUCE THE PERMEABILITY OF THE SOIL
BUT WILL NOT INCREASE THE SOILS
STABILITY.

THEY ARE FLEXIBLE IN LEVEL AND LAYOUT

STABLE IN OPERATION
ABLE TO RUN DRY WITHOUT DAMAGE
NOT LIMITED BY DEPTH. ALSO EFFECTIVE
TO GREATER DEPTHS
5. BEST IN LOW-YIELDING WELLS
6. ENERGY INTENSIVE
7. VENTURI IN BASE OF WELL CREATES
VACUUM

RELIEF WELL
RELIEF WELLS (ALSO KNOWN AS PRESSURE RELIEF WELLS
OR BLEED WELLS) ARE USED TO REDUCING PORE WATER
PRESSURES IN CONFINED AQUIFERS OR IN STRATIFIED
GROUND CONDITIONS.
THE RELIEF WELLS ARE TYPICALLY DRILLED BEFORE THE
EXCAVATION HAS EXTENDED BELOW THE PIEZOMETRIC
LEVEL IN THE AQUIFER.
AS EXCAVATION CONTINUES, THE WELLS WILL BEGIN TO
OVERFLOW, RELIEVING PORE WATER PRESSURES IN THE
AQUIFER AND ENSURING STABILITY.
THE WATER FLOWING FROM THE RELIEF WELLS IS
TYPICALLY DISPOSED OF BY SUMP PUMPING.
A GRANULAR DRAINAGE BLANKET AND NETWORK OF
DRAINS CAN BE USED TO DIRECT WATER TO THE SUMPS
AND PREVENT PONDING IN THE EXCAVATION.

DEWATERING TYPES

RIGHT: A DEWATERING SYSTEM REDUCES THE GROUNDWATER UPLIFT

PRESSURE TO LESS THAN THE WEIGHT OF THE OVERLYING SOIL, SO
PREVENTING GROUND HEAVE.

BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION

SHEET NO.

MANAS ARORA
3RD YEAR - B
VASTU KALA ACADEMY

SIGNATURE :