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Whereas the Parliament of India has set out to provide a practical regime of right to
information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities,
in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority,
and whereas the attached publication of the Bureau of Indian Standards is of particular interest
to the public, particularly disadvantaged communities and those engaged in the pursuit of
education and knowledge, the attached public safety standard is made available to promote the
timely dissemination of this information in an accurate manner to the public.

“जान1 का अ+धकार, जी1 का अ+धकार” “प0रा1 को छोड न' 5 तरफ”

Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan Jawaharlal Nehru
“The Right to Information, The Right to Live” “Step Out From the Old to the New”

IS 9759 (1981): Guidelines for dewatering during

construction [CED 43: Soil and Foundation Engineering]

“!ान $ एक न' भारत का +नम-ण”

Satyanarayan Gangaram Pitroda
“Invent a New India Using Knowledge”

“!ान एक ऐसा खजाना > जो कभी च0राया नहB जा सकता ह”

है”
ह
Bhartṛhari—Nītiśatakam
“Knowledge is such a treasure which cannot be stolen”
 IS: 9759 -1981
Reaffirmed 2008

Indian Standard
GUIDELINES FOR
DEWATERING DURING CONSTRUCTION

(First Reprint AUGUST 1997)

UDC 624.152.61 (026)

© Copyright 1981

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002

Gr 8 December 1981
 IS: 9759.1981

Indian Standard
GUIDELINES FOR
DEWATERING DURING CONSTRUCTION

Foundation Engmeermg Sectional Committee, BDC 43

Chairman RefJ,.ese"lin~
PROF DINESH ~10HAN Central Building Research Institute (CSIR),
Roorkee

Members
DR R K. BHANDARI Central Boddrog Research Institute (CSIR),
Rocrkee
CHIEF ENGINEFR Calcutta Port Trust. Calcutta
SHRt S GtiHA (Alterndte)
SHRt M. G. DANDAVATE The Concrete ASSoCIatIon of India, Bombay
SHRl N C. DUOQAL (Allernat!)
SHRl A G DMTIDAR In personal capacity (5 Hungerford Road, 121
Huneaford Street, Calcutta)
SaRI V. C. DFSHPANDE The Pressure Prlmg Co (I) Pvt Ltd, Bombay
DIRECTOR (CSMRS) Central Water & Power Oomrmssion, New Deihl
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (CSMRS) (Alternate)
SHRI A H DIVANTI Asia Foundations and Construction Co Pvt Ltd.
Bombay
:-'HRI A. N JANGLE (Allt"NlQlt')
DR R. K. DAS GVPTA Simplex Concrete Piles (India) Pvt Ltd. Calcutta
ADDITIONAL CHI£P ENGINEER (.4lternak)
DR JAGDISH NARAI"l Indian Oeotechmc Society, New Delhi
PROF SWAMI SARAN (Alternate)
SHRT G. S.JAlN G. S. Jam &. Associates, Rocrkee
SHRI AmOK KTJM~RJAIN (Alternate)
JOINT DIRECTOR (Dt National Burldmgs Organisation, New Delhi
SHlU SU""IL B~RY (Alternate)
JOINTDIRECTOR RESEARCH (51\..1) Ministry of Railways (RDSO)
]OlNT DZRECTOR RESEARCH (B&5) (Alternate)
DR R K. KATTt Indian l nsnrute of Te-chnology, Bombay
SHRI S. R KllLKARNI M. N Dastur & Co Pvt Ltd, Calcutta
SHRI S Roy (Alternate)
SHRIO. P. MALHOTRA Public Works Department, C han dig a r h
Adnurustration
SHRI A. P J\.IATHUR Central Warehousing Corporation, New Delhi
SHRl V. B. MATHUR Machenzres Limited, Bombay
SHRT T K D MUNlII Engineers India Limned, New Delhi
SHRI M IYENGAR (Alternate)
(Contmued on page 2)

\Cl Copyrrght 1981

fjUKEAU Ot INDIAN STANDARDS
This publication is protected under the IndIan CopYright Act (XIV of 1957) and
recrodccnon In whole or III part by any means except With wrnten perrmsston of the
publisher shall be deemed to be an mrnngement of copYright under the said Act
IS : 9759.1981
(Contmued from page J)

Members RepreJtnlmg
SHRl B. K PANTHAKY The Hmdustan Construction Company Limited,
Bombay
SHRIV. M. MADGE (Aturnatt)
SIIRI M. R PuN] ..... Cerrundra Co Ltd, Bombay
SHRI S. MUKHERJEE (AlJulIQJe)
SHRI N. E. V RAGHVA"'l The Braithwaite Burn & Jessop Construction Co
Ltd, Calcutta
5HFll A A R"'Ju Vliavariag ar Steel Plant (SAll. New De/til
PROF (.OPAL kANJAN Unrc ersny of Roorkee, Roorkee
SHRT T N. StlDDA RAO Gammon India Limited, Bombay
Smll S A. REDDI (Allcrnatr)
SHRI Y V NARA'>TMHA RAO Bokarn Steel Plant (Steel Autborary of India),
Bokaro
DR V V. S Reo Nagadr Consultants Pvt Ltd, New Deihl
SHRI ARJUN RIJHSINGIIANI Cement Corporation of India, New Delhi
SHRJ 0 S SRI v ASTAVA {Altanal",}
DR A SARGUNAN College of Engmeenng, GUlOdy
SHRI S BOOMI"'4'ATHAN (Atlernnlf)
SURI K. R. SAnNA Pubhc works Department, Government of Andh ra
Pradesh, Hyderabad
DR S. P ';HRIVASTAVA United Technical Consultants Pvt Ltd, New Delhi
UR R KAPlTR (Aflemate)
BIlIG OMBIN. SINGH Engmeer-m-Chref?s Branch, Army Headquarters,
New Delhi
J...l"'J H K HIIlTT<\NI (Alternale)
SURI N SIVAliURU Muustrv or Shipping and Transport, New Delhi
'sHRI n \'
~11l.K'" {A/ter,ralf')
SUPER1NTENDI~(. b N GIN r; r R Ce-ntral Pubhl- WOrks Department, New Dt"lhl
(UE.!>IG"'Sl
EXEClJTIVF ENC.JNHR (DFSIGNS) V (Alternate)
I;jHRI M D TAMBE"'AR Bombay Port Trust, Bombay
DR i\ \ ARAOARAJA!>l Indian Ineutuce of Technology, New Deihl
DR R KANIRAJ (Altanale)
~HRI G RAMA.... Director General, B1S (E~-offiClo Ml'mber)
Director {en' Engg)

Secretary
SHRT K. M. MATHUR
Deputy Director (en' Engg), DIS

Miscellaneous Foundauon Subcomnuttee , BDC 43 : 6

Convener
SHR( SHiTALA SHARAN Pubhc Works Department. Luckncw
Membtrf
SHRI E. T ANTIA The Concrete ASSOCiation of India, Bombay
SliRI N C. DtJGGAL (Alternate)
CHIllY hNrlNEER (Ro ... os) Mmrstry of Transport and Shipping (Roads Wm.rr),
New Delhi
(Continued on page 36)

2
 AMENDMENT NO.1 MARCH 1989
TO
IS : 9759 • 1981 GUIDELINES FOR DEWATERING
DURING CONSTRUCTION

( Pag' 6, claus, 4.3.1.5, ,nformlll table) - Substitute 'k X 10-' ' for
, k '.
( Page 12, clause 6.3.4.5 ) - Substitute' V' fOT ' V ' appearing for
vacuum at pump intake.
'N ~ 'N'
(Page 27, claus, 11-1.10 ) - Substitute N; fOT Nf
appearing at
two places.
( Page 30, Table Z, col 3 ) - Substitute the followmg for the value
of' Q' m lines I, 2 and 4 respectively:
kD.
a) -t- (H - h. )

kx
b) -2L (H' - he' )

c) ( O'J3 + 0'21 H ~he ) ff (H' -ho')

[Pag' 30, Table 2, Notes (i) and (II) ] - Substitute' H - ho' fOT
, H - he' appearing at two places.

( Page 31, Table 3, col 3, ltn« 2) - Substitute the following for the
value of f Q ':

• (0 J3 + O'2J H ~ he ) ~ (HS _ ho' ) ,

( Page 31, Table 3, Nole) - Substitute the fullowing for the value
of' h':

'he + (H - hel f: ~ ,
( Page 32, Table 4, last Itne ) - Substitute' ho 'foT ' he ' appearing at
two places.
( Page 32, Table 5, col 3 ) - Substitute' W. 'for' kD, "

J
 ( Page 33, Tnbl« 6, col 3 ) - Substitute the following value of 'Qw'
agamst ' Gravity':
• h[(H-S)' - /']
I. ( R/rw )
[I + (03+ IOrW)
H
. \·8S].
11. H
(Pag. 33, Tabl. 6, col 3 ) - Substitute the following against the
value of' Qwp':
2nkD ( H - hw ) G
'. ( Rlrw )
(Pag. 33, Tabl« 6, NOll) - Substitute the following for the value
off G '0

D
w (I + 7) .Jzw--rw COl 1t
n2
- WID
-

(HOC.3 )

2
Pnnt,ed at Ne_ Indul PrlDtlft' Pr.... K.burJa. Indj.
 IS : 9759· 1981

Indian Standard
GUIDELINES FOR
DEWATERING DURING CONSTRUCTION
o. FOR E W 0 R D

0.1 This Indian Standard was adopted by the Indian Standards Institution
on 27 February 1981, after t he draft fina lized by the Foundation Engineering
Sectional Committee had bee n approved hy the CIVU Engineering Division
Council
0.2 The problem ofdewater mg d urmg co nvtructron 1S met wrth in most of the
civil r-ngmr crmg constructions The concerned technical committee has,
rhr-rcfore, felt thdt some guidehnc s for dewarermg at least for the most
common cases could be formulated. An attempt has, therefore, been made
In thi .. standard to givr- some guide line .. for dcwatermg for normal construc-,
tton works other than rrve r valley projects (that is, the earth dams, etc, for
which reference may be made to IS· 5050-1963*). In construction of power-
houses in boulderjgrave l reaches, the dewatering conditions are entirely
different and arc not covered In rhrs standard
0.3 In the Iorrnulanon of this standard, considerable assistance has been
rendered by thr- Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee , which has
furnished the vanous data included in the standard
0.4 For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this
standard is comphed with, the final value, observed or calculated, expressing
the result of a test or analysts, shall be rounded off In accordance WIth
IS . 2·1960t. The number of significant place' retained III the rounded off
value should be the same as that of the specified value in th ts standar-d.

I. SCOPE
1.1 T'his standard provides J. aiude lme for dc v.. a termg durmg construction
of'foundaoon and excavanon.

2. TERMINOLOGY
2.0 1'01 th, purpo,e of this vrnnd.u d, the followrng defimuons shall apply.
2.1 Anode Povit rvely chat-gr-d electrode.
*Code of practice for design, construe.non and maintenance of relief wells,
[Rules for rounding off nuun ucal values (revmd)

3
IS : 9759. 1981
2.2 Cathode - Ncganvely charged electrode.
2.3 Discharge Line -- Steel, alu miruum or plasuc conduits to conduct
flows from pump.
2.4 Electro-Osmosis -- Electrical drainage method for dewatering
2.5 Equipotential Line - Line in flow regron at a ll point" on wlur-h Llu-
total head IS the same.
2.6 Flow, Artesian -- Flow through a perVIOUS stratum bounded above-
and below by Impervious layers
2.7 now, Gravity - Flow undcr gravity through pervious ,011
2.8 Flow Line -- Path followed by a particle of water through a saturated
soil mass
2.9 now Net -- Graphical representation ofAow through soils comprising
flow lines and equipotential hnes
2.10 now Net, Plan - - Flow net which represents the plan view of the
seepagC' pattern.
2.11 Flow Net, Sectional-- Flow net which represents the sectional view
of the seepage pattern
2.12 Head Discharge - Head at which water is discharged from pump.
2.13 Head, Total DynaJDic - Sum total of operatmg vacuum at the
pump intake, discharge head and discharge fricnon losses
2.14 Head Loss, Entrance - Head loss caused due to entrance of water
through weJJ screen
2.15 Head Loss, Friction - Hvdrauhc head loss m pipe' due to fr-iction.
2'.16 Head Loss, Total Sum total of screen entrance head Ioss, friction
head losses due to flow through well screen and riser pipe and the velocity
head loss.
2.17 Head Loss, Velocity - Equals v2 j2g , where "z 15 the velocuv of flow
through the rrscr pipe, and 'g' is the acceleranon due to gravny.
2.18 Line Source - RIver or stream adjacent to well system
2.19 Operating VacuulD -- Vacuum created at the welipoint pumps
hrmted by the atrnoapher-rc pressure
7.20 Piezometric Level- - Hydraulic head level ccmprrsmg total head
(sum of pressure head, datum head and ve locuy head for flow through soils)
2.21 Pipe. Header - The pipe which collects water from the rrser pipe
and leads on to the pump.

4
 IS : 9759 - I!IU

7.22 Pipe, Riser - Small diameter vertical pipes connected to the well-
point.
7.23 Radius of lnfluence - Radrus of the circle beyond which the well
has no significant influence on the original ground water level or piezometric
surface.
7.24 WeD, Fully Penetrating -- Well which penetrates to the full depth
of pervious stratum
7.25 WeD, Partially Penetrating - Wen which does not penetrate to the
full depth of the pervIOus stratum
7.26 Wellpoint - Small well screen made with self-jetting tips.
7.'1:7 Wellpoint SystelD - A system consisting of wellpoints around an
excavation, attached to a common header pipe, and connected to a wellpoint
pump.

3. GENERAL
3.1 Dewatering is the operation of lowering of ground water level. It is
resorted to when excavations are made below natural ground water table,
and is usually a temporary measure. Dewatering is also done to relieve the
bottom of an excavation of artesian pressure.
3.7 A properly designed. installed and operated dewatering system can serve
the following purposes:

a) Lowering the water table and intercepting seepage, which would

otherwise emerge from the slope or bottom of the excavation.
b) Increasing the stability of the excavated sbopes.
c) Preventing Joss of material from beneath the slopes or bottom of
the excavation.
d) Reducing lateral loads or sheeting and bracing.
e) Preventing rupture or heaving of the bottom of an excavation.
f) Providing a suitable working surface at the bottom ofthe excavation.

4. RE~UIREMENTS FOR A DEWATERING PROJECT

4.1 DUnensions of the Excavation - The SIze and depth of the proposed
excavation should be known
4.2 Required Lowering of Water Table - The allowable ground water
table or uplift pressure during construction should be ascertained.
4.3 Geological and Soil Condition
4.3.1 SubsurjQJ:e InvestigatiDn
5
IS , 9759 -1981

4.3.1.1 Use - A thorough subsurface investigation should be made by

boring or jetting tests in the immediate vicmiry of the site, to ascertain the
characteristics of the soil adjacent to and beneath the excavation. Soil
type and characteristics (see 6.3.1) Significantly affect the choice and design
of a dewatering system.
4.3.1.2 Spating of bonngs - IS : 1892-1979· may be followed in this
respect. The number and spacing of bore holes will depend upon the
extent of the site and the nature. of structures coming on it. For a compact
building site covering an area of about 0·4 hectare, one bore hole in each
corner and one in the centre should be adequate. For smaller and less
important buildings even one bore hole in the centre will suffice, For
very large areas covering industrral and residential colonies, the geological
nature of the terrain will help m deciding the number of bore holes. Cone
penetration tests may be performed a t every 100 m by dividing the area
in a grid pattern and the number of bore holes decided by examining the
variation m the penetration curves
4.3.1.3 Important boring obsewatwRS -- The thickness of various strata
and stratifications, if any, should be noted. Layers of clay or any other
impervious material should be carefully recorded.
4.3.1.4 Water table and substratum pressure - The position of water
table and substratum pressure should be reliably determined.
NOTE - It IS preferable to collect records, If available, of the positron of water table
and hydrostatic pressure With the season of the year or river stage. Alternatively, if
ume perrruts, the water table of hydrostatic pressure should be observed over a period
of time, SInce It WJU frequently vary With the season of the year and WIth the stage of
an adjacent river.
4.3.1.5 Permeability of pervious stratum -- Permeability of the pervious
strata to be dewatered should be determined by field pumping test. A
rough idea about the permeability of different SOlIs can be had from the
following table:

Type of Sand CoejJi£ltnt of Permeability, (k) cmlsec

Very fine sand I to 50

Fine sand 51 to 200
Fine to medium sand 201 to 500
Medium sand 501 to I 000
Med tum to coarse sand I 001 to I 500
Gravel and coarse sand I 501 to 3000
NOTE 1 - For large excavations and excavations underlain by deep strata of sand,
the permeability should be ascertained [or the full depth.

·Code of practice for sub-surface mvesngatron for foundabons (first rerwn).

6
 IS : 9759. 1981
NOTE 2 -In case the 'pumping test' IS not conducted at the site, the fol1owinl applOXi-
mate formuJa for determining the coefticient of permeability for fairly uniform sands
in loose state With uniforrmry coefficient not greater than 2 may be wed.
k = C1 DI10

where
k = coefficient of permeabrliry 10 em/s,
C. = a constant, varying between 100 and 150; and
Dto = effective gram size in em.
4.4 Source or Seepage
404.1 NaJu" of Source - The nature of the source of seepage should be
properly determined. The source of seepage depends to a great extent on
the geological features of the area and adjacent streams Or bodies of water,
If the wells are not close to a river or canal, and the only seepage is from
the formation being dewatered, the source may be assumed circular. Streams
close to the wells may act as line sources of seepage, depending on the
distance of the wells from the effecnve source of seepage (see 4.43).
4.4.2 Radius of InJlueru:e (R)
4.4.2.1 DefinitIOn - The radius of influence, R, is defined as the radius
of the circle beyond which the well has no significant influence on the
original ground water level or piezometric surface.
4.4.2.2 Determination of R byfield test- The radius of influence, R,
should be estimated from field pumping test, by determining the drawdown
curve by means of piezometers.
Non - The radius of influence increases with mcreased drawdown and WIth pumping
time. The magnitude of these effects IS difficult to estimate numencaUy; therefore,
the radius ofmfluence should be estimated conservatively.
4.4.2.3 Approximate formula for R - The following empirical relation-
ship' may be used for estimating R:
R = C' (H-k,,)v'J;
where
R = radius of influence in ill,
C' = a constant=Q·g (for gravity flows),
H = depth of natural water table in metres,
"_ = head at the weIJ in me tres, and
k = coefficient of permeability in 10- 0 cm/s.
4.43 Wells Adjacent to River
4.43.1 Lin« source - If the wells are close to a river, the source 0
seepage may be considered as the river, provided the distance L from the
wells to the river is less than R/2.
f.5 Chemiea1 Properties or Gr01llld Water
405.1 Corrosion and Inaustation - Metallic well screens are susceptible to
.Based on Sichordt's equation.

7
IS I 9759 - 1981

attaclt by certain chemicals present in ground water causing corrosion and

incrustation ofwell screens. Presence ofchemicals like carbonates, hydrogen
sulphide, sulphur dioxide, iron sulphide, iron sulphate, organic acids and
dissolved oxygen should be tested by chemical analyses.
4.5.2 Minimizing Corrosion - Corrosion may be minimized by using
metals in well screen which are resistant to corrosion, such as bronze.
stainless steel, brass, gaJvanized iron, etc. Wood or plastics WhICh are not
subject to corrosion are preferable.
4.52.1 Limits of corrodmg material in ground waler - The principal indi-
cators of corrosion by ground water are low pH, presence of dissolved
oxygen, hydrogen sulphide, total dissolved solids In excess of I 000 ppm,
carbon dioxide in excess of 50 ppm, and chloride content greater than
500 ppm The principal indicators of incrustating ground water are total
hardness greater than 330 ppm, total alkalimty greater than 300 ppm,
iron content greater than 72 ppm, and pH greater than 8·0.
U.3 Minimizing Innwtation - For mmirmzing incrustation, the following
m.ethods can be adopted:
a) WellpointsjwelIs should be installed so that water can enter the
well with the least resistance possible,
b) Entrance velocity in the well should be kept low,
c) Water from any welI should not be pumped more than necessary, and
d) Wells can be cleaned before the incrustation becomes excessive.

5. CHOICE OF DEWATERING SYSTEM

5.1 SoIl Type - The subsurface investigations and their interpretations
should provide the information needed to establish the kind of dewatering
system that is required for an individual project. Table I provides a general
guidance in this regard.
5.2 Pu-tide Size Di.tributiOJl - The particle size distribution of the
soil inftuences the choice of a particular method· in a dewatering project.
The range of soil types over which the various processes are applicable
can be obtained from the classification given in Fig. I. To use these curve"
the particle size distribution of the soil should be obtained by sieving tests
and the grading curve should be plotted on the chart. The system appli-
cable to the particular soil type can then be chosen easily.

s, ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF A DEWATERING SYSTEM

&.1 DHiga Reqairemeat. - Design of a dewatering system requires
determination of the number, size, spacing and penetration of the well-
points or welIs and the rate at which water must be removed from the
pervious strata in order to achieve the required ground water lowering.

8
 IS STANDARD SIEVE IS STANDARD SIEVE NUMBERS HYDROMETER
OPENING,. ~'5<m
'" 0 0 0
OU"lQQOOIl'lOG:)
~t.~ ~ IIID CD ... 1"'11 N .......
ice ~~g~2~5:!
Ill' r I' r 'rlll'~JI'1 'I "IIIII'l'1 f 'I' ':111'111
,,
II II I r\ . . 1\
'0
SUB AQUEOUS \1\\1\) I I \11\1\ 1\\w~,,~"'~'';''~,I,J \\ IUlIIII I I
EXCAVATION rw II II i i 1\
_"I '-UIJ'WJ.:lo nlln, •
.. SO .. , , , , , • , , 1\
:z: GROUT CURTAI N
i ij ?O MAY BE; REQUIREO
'"
~
,'- .. , .... ,,"":_--_
"" ,.... "'.... "_~
... , /
> 60
CD
'.1 II [ I
, \
ffi so 111
z
40 I I I \
~
"'JI"l.u.IN~H"-l J I ~
I..... ...., I
11111l1, _,
'" ...z -_ .._-,-~\
w 30 RANGE ~y BE EXTE"---
u BY USING LARGE SUMr, ......
a:
w
e,
WITH GRAVEL FILTERS 1\
~O
\
""" ' 1\
o L\ I \ \ I \ \, II \ I I \ \, \ \ \ \ I 111111111111111111111'
100 50 10 5 1 0·5 0·1 0·05 0'01 0-005
GRAIN SIZE IN mm EiI

FINE SILT OR CLAY

FIG. I DEWATERING SYSTEMS ApPLICABLE TO DIFFEIlE~T SOILS

..!~•
 IS , 9759. 1981
6.2 DillCharge Formulae
6.2.1 Use -- The fundamental relationship between discharge from wells
or wellpcints and the corresponding drawdown produced in the pervious
strata is of primary importance. The appropriate formulae should be
used in the design calculations, for a particular field situation. Since
the wells are closely spaced in a wellpoint system, the line of wells is taken
as a slot for computation purposes.
6.2.2 Flow from Lme Source I<> Slot - The discharge and drawdown rela-
tionships are given m Tables 2 tc 4. The line source and the slot are
considered to be of infinite length.
6.2.3 Correction for Finite 1.Lngth of Slot - Since a slot IS actually composed
ofa finite number of wells only, corrections are apphed to the head reduction
computed for the slot. The head reduction at the wells can be obtained
from Table 5.
6.2." Flow from Circular Source to Single Well- The dIScharge and draw-
down relationships are given m Table 6.
6.2.5 Flow from Line Source to Single Well - The dunharge and drawdown
relationships are given in Table 7.
6.s E••ential Steps in Designing a Wellpoint/Well System
6.3.1 Subsoil Properties - An accurate determination of the subsoil
profile and the permeability characteristics of the soil should be made
as mentioned m 4.3.1. The value of k, the coefficient of'permeabiluy of the
water bearing stratum, should be determined for use in the design in
accordance with 4.3.1.5.
6.s.2 Distance of Wellpomtsl Wells from Source of Seepage - Depending on
the geological condition, the value of R or L should be ascertained accord-
ing to clause 4.4. In this regard, the following considerations should be
taken care of.
a) If the actual radius of influence is large compared with the radius
of the well, only an approximate estimation of R may suffice,
SInce the discharge is not much sensitive to the value of R
b) An accurate estimation of L should be made for a particular de-
watt"ring system, since the discharge is inversely proportional to
the value of L.
6.3.3 Effective Well Radius
6.s.s.1 Wells installed without filter - Half the outside diameter of the
well screen should be taken as effective well radius.
6.3.3.2 Wells mstalled with sand or gravel filter - Half the outside
diameter of the filter should be taken as effective well radius.
NOTIf, - Where a well screen has been installed WIthout a filter but a natural filter
aroWld the screen is developed by surgmg. the extent of the developed filter becomes
indefinite. In such a case, a conservative assumpuon of half the outside diameter of
the aereeo should Ix taken as the effecnve well radius

10
 IS : 9759 - I'ln
o

o·2 -: v-I
V
0- 4 /
WID

o6 /
I
a8

t- 0
o 0'5 io 1·5 2-0
y
FIG. 2 FACTOR r VERSUS RATIO WJD

1·2 1-5

~ <,
1'0

0-8
(

0·5
~ f..-
2

o 2 4 6 8 10 o a as 0'10 0-15
l/he b/ H
3a Factor k1 3b Factor kl
NOTE ~ 2 I is = distance between slots (I ~ width of slots)

FIG_ 3 COMPUTATION OF FACTORS k, AND k,

II
IS : 9759. 1981

63.4 Discharge Computations

63.4.1 Since the wellpoints are closely spaced, they can be considered
as creating a continuous slot. Their spacing is so determined that the
head along the line of wellpoints is essentially the same as would exist at
a slot. The following procedure should be followed in this respect.
63.4.2 If H is the head corresponding to the natural water table
and h. is the head at the slot, then the head reduction (N-h.) at a slot
required to produce the desired residual head 'hD ' should be computed
from equations given in Tables 2 to 5, read with FIg 2 and 3.
6.3.43 Assuming that ".="D,
and that (11.-11",), the head difference
(h.. being the head at the well) is small (assumed as 0001 H), the well-
point spacmg can then be computed from the followmg equations:
a) For artesian case:
hD-h.. = _a_ In _a_
N -hD 21TL 21Trw
where
L distance of wellpoints from line source,
a spacing of wellpoints, and
r.. radius of w-Ilpoints,
b) For gravity case:
h2D-h2 a a
...-i"'--;-;;"''''
H2_h 2D = -21TL In 21TTw
NOTE 1 - For computation of welipomt spacing method of 'flow-net') as gIVen In
Appendix B be followed.
NOTE 2 - In lieu of detailed computations, the approximate apacmg of wellpomt
required to produce a gIven groundwater lowering m various SOIls can be esumated
from the nomographs shown In Fig. 4 and 5. However, these ncmographs should be
used with cautron, since they are based on empmcal data and are for average conditions.
63.4.4 Mter the wellpoint spacing and the head h.. at the wc lipoint
have been computed, the flow Q.. per wellpomt can be computed from
the equation given in Table 5.
63.4.5 The' above value of IIw should be equal to or greater than
the value of h.. computed from the following equation. The total head
loss in a wellpomt connection should be estimated afresh:
h.. = M-V+H, +H..
in which M = distance from base of pervious stratum,
v = vacuum at punlp intake,
He = average head loss in header pipe up to pump intake,
vnd IIw --'- total head loss ill each wellpoint and swing conne-ction
head loss due to screen entrance (H,) +
friction loss due to flow through the well screen (H,) +
friction loss due to flow in the riser pipe (H,) +
velocity head loss (N.).

12
 IS : 9759 - 1981
NOTE- The top of the wellpomt screen sf culd l e set sligl tly b!LW (h.-H~) LO
ensure mat the wcllpomr J~ submerged; OWUWISf" excessive arr n ay e nrr r t}-( dewatenng
system and reduce its efficiency.

GROUND WAlER
LOWERING ~O 3m POLES
~­ ,~

60

50 o GRAVEL

]Q

2\
, .c \fERY FINE GRAVEL

:l
-
20
,-
15 5 __ a COARSE SAND
J -
- 6- ,l

B -
-"! -- VERY FINE
GR"El •• - ---0 MEDIUM SANO

:t
10 7
5-
•9
10
COARSE MEOIUM ----oFtNE SAND
SAND GAND
15

20

25
FIN[ SAND

FL. 4 WELLPOINT SPACING FOR UNIFORM

CLEAN SANDS AND GRAVELS

6.3.5 Design of Filters - The requirements tor filter material shall be

as Wider:
Character ofFilter A/aterials RatIO R. o Ratio R 15
Uniform grain size disrr-ibuzicn (U~3 to 4) 5 to 10
Wen graded to poorly graded (non-uniform); 12 to 5B 12 to 40
subrounded grains
Wen graded to poorly graded [non-uniform}; 9 to 30 6 to 18
angular particles

I~
IS : 9759. 1981
D.. of filter material
D•• of material to be protected
D 15 of filter material
D 15 ufmaterial to be protected
Nora - Pipmg Pretention - The phenomenon of piping may be prevented at seepage
aiD: in an excavanon by provrdmg artrficral devices such as drams and filters. Most
dramege systems make use of porous filter aggregates to collect the water and conduct
it to outlets, often with the aid of perforated or slotted pIpes Proper filter design is
Important for prevention of prpmg
If a filter layer satisfies the cntena, it is virtually Impossible for pIpmg to occur, even
under extremely large hvdrauhc gradients Adequate specrficauons and careful con-
structions are requrred, If the works, as they are constructed, are to be completely safe
from piping troubles.

GROUND WATER SPACING OF WEll POINTS x 0·3m

POLES
lOWERING x D'lm r---------"'---------, .----..,

60
50 1{__
1

--
,I:) GRAVEL
'0 2
2 2 5 _-<> VERY FINE
30
25 ,
1 j.O_.... GRAVEL
3 - GRAVEL
20 5
,
»>:
1
15 2
__ -o COARSE
__5 10 --- SAND
~

'.::~
... -- ~
--
10 15
5
8 < , ... --- --
... ... 6
VERY FINE
GRAVEL

,
6
5
10
7
8
9
10

'5
--- - - -<) MEDIUM
SAND
10 COARSE
3 '5 SAND
FINE
SAND IS
2
MEDIUM
SAND

FIG. 5 WELLPOINT SPACING FOR STRATIFIED

CLEAN SANDS AND GRAVELS
6.3.6 Design and Selecuoa of Well Screens -- The followmg criteria may
be observed in designmg and selecting well screens or wellpoints:
Slot width < D,.
(filter or aquifer sand)
Hole diameter or width < D •• (filter or aquifer sand)

14
 IS : 9759. 1981
NOTE - Where silty sods ale to be drained, the welJpoJDt should be provided with
a graded medium to coarse sand filter designed In accordance with the filter criteria
set forth in 6.35.

6.3.7 Horse Power if Pump- The following formula shall be used to

determine the required 'horse power' of the pump to be selected for the
dewarermg system:
Total discharge in gpm X Total dynamic head
H orse power = . .
3960 X Efficiency of the pump and engine
where total dynamic head = operating vacuum at the pump
intake +discharge friction Iosses,
6.3.8 Layout Scheme - A layout scheme should be chosen for the weill
wel1point system, depending on the size and shape of the excavation. The
choice can be made of the following two systems:
a) Progressive syskm - This system is used for trench work. The
header should be laid out along the SIdes of the excavation, and
pumping should be continuously in progress in one length a.
further points are jetted ahead of the pumped down section and
pulled out from the completed and backfilled lengths. For
narrow excavations it ]5 often sufficient to have the header on
one side only. For wide excavatIOn'S or in soils containing bands
of relatively impervious materials, the header should be placed
on both sides of the trench.
b) Ring system - The header main in this system surrounds the exca-
vation completely. ThIS is suitable for rectangular excavations.

6.3.9 Collector Lanes

6.3.9.1 Hydraulic head losses - The wellpoints, riser pipes, header
pipes and pumps should be of adequate sizes for the flow being handled,
so that the hydraulic head losses in the we llpoint and collector systems
are kept minimum, Head losses to be considere d are those due to velocity
and friction, and enlargements, tees. elbows, valves and other discontinuities
in the line. For estimating losses due to irrcgularuics in the- line, the usual
formulae on hydraulics can be used.
6.3.9.2 Header pipes- Header pipes commonly consist of relatively
light weight steel or plastic pipes. Headers for wellpoints contain inlets
for wellpoint connections at short intervals. Headers are normally of
sizes varying from 15 to 30 cm of diameters.
6.3.9.3 Non-return valves - The connection of collector lines to the
header pipes should be through non-return valves.
6.3.10 We/lpoint Pumps
15
 18 I 9759. 1981
6.3.10.1 Selection of pumps
a) Vacuum pumps - Cenmfuga! pumps are used for pumping through
the collector pIpes in a wellpoint system. Thc selected pumps should
have sufficient air handling capacuy, and they should be able to produce
a high-vacuum. A wcllpoint pump consisting of a self-primmg centrifugal
pump with attached vacuum pump proves to be adequate. IL develops
6 to 7 5 m of vacuum An assumption of 6 m of Vacuum may h~ safely
made in the design. Consideration should, however, b- given for positive
pressure head.
b) Jet-tdllctor pumps - I f the depth of water table lowering is large
(greater than 4 5 m) but the rate of pumpage for each well point is rela-
tively small (less than 10 to 15 gpm), installation of a single stage wellpoint
system at the top of the excavation or water table, with attached jet-eductor
pump may prove to be advantageous than a multi-stage wellpomt system.
A jet-eductor wellpoint system can lower the water table by 15 to 30 m.
6.3.10.:Z Location and spacing if pumps - The locanon and spacing of
welijloint pumps depend on the length of header pipe, discharge rate,
and point ofdi,cnarge. Ifa long collector line (say 150-300 m) is pumped
by a single pump, the pump should be located at the centre of the line
to obtain a maximum vacuum m the lin-. In short lines and where the
flow 15 small, the pump can be located wherever convenient.
6.3.10.3 Pump inlaM
a) The intake of the pump should be set as low as practicable and
it should not be more than 45 to 55 m above the bottom of the excavation.
b) If the discharge is large, the pump intake should be set at the
same elevation as the collector lines.
6.:J.IO.4 Selection of power U'lit - In s<"lecting the power unit to be
used for drivmg the pumps, consideration should b ~ given to the initial
cost of th- unit) and the cost of op-ration, tncludtng maintenance and
fuel.
6.3.10.5 Slandby equipments - Standby umrs should bo kept ready
for immediate use in case of any emergency.
6.3.11 Discharge Lines
6.3.11.1 DIscharge lines can consut of steel, aluminium or plastic
pipes.
6.3.11.:Z Tue pipes should b> of proper size to conduct the flow with
relatively small head loss.
6.3.11.3 Ditches C3n bo dug to conduct the flow away from the sue.
However, such duches shall be kept Well back from the top of the excava-
tion to prevent saturating the upp~r parts of the stope.
6.3.12 Wellpointing in Deep Excauauons - Multi-stage wellpoints,
6.3.U.I Genera! - The limitations in the drawdown to 4 5 to 6 m
by a si.'1~I~ w ~llp:Jint necessitates successive stages of wellpoints to be

16
 IS , 9759 - 1981

installeo u" deeper cxc watton below standing water level is required. There
is no :lmit to the depth of drawdown In this way, but the overall width
of excavation at top level becomes very large.
6.3.12.2 Position ~ header pipes - The lowest header of multistage
system should be located not more than about 45 m above subgrade to
ensure that proper drawdown of the ground water level can be achieved
with the vacuum available in the line.
6.3.123 Observations - Observations should be made immediately
prior to and while pumping the upper stage, for discharge and ground
water lowering. Comparison should then be made with the computed
values to check the adequacy of the lower stage pnor to its installation.
63.13 Deep Bored Welts
63.13.1 General - Large diameter deep wells can be used effectively
where the depth of excavation below the water table is large (more than
about 10 m), or where artesian pressure in a deep aquifer beneath an
excavation must be reduced. Deep wells are suitable where the excavation
penetrates or is underlain by sand or coarser granular SOllS. Where
adequate submergence is available and the required rate of pumping is
large, deep bored wells may be preferable to wellpoints.
6.3.13.2 Design - The procedure for designing a system of deep wells
is similar to that for wellpoints. Clauses 6.3.1 to 6.3.7 can be referred
to ill this regard.
6.3.133 Sizes of welt and welt screens ~ The wells should be large
enough for the pump required and to keep the head losses low. The well
screen should be of sufficient length to admit the flow with small head
loss Deep wells normally have diameters of 15 to 45 em with screens
of 6 to 22·5 m length.
63.13.4 Use of surf",e pumps- Pumping from wells can be under-
taken by surface pumps with their suction pipes installed in bored wells.
However, the depth of drawdown by this method IS not much more than
7 5 m. If eenrrifugal pumps are used in a deep well system, the pumps
can be located on the excavauon slopes and connected to a common header
pipe. The top of the well screen In such cases should be set below the
computed water surface in the well.
63.13.5 Use ~ deep well pumps- For deep excavations, electrically
powered submersible pumps should be installed, w.ith a rising main to the
surface. It should be seen that there is sufficient depth of pervIOus material
below the level to which the water table is to be lowered, for adequate
submergence of well screen and pump. If wells are located at the top
of the excavation, interference WIth the cxcavanon and construction call
be eliminated.
63.13.6 Selection oj deep well pumps- Turbines or submersible pumps
are used to pump large diameter (150 mm and above) wells. Proper
selection of pumps should be made in respect of pump capacity, from the

17
IS : 9759. 1981

variety of deep well pumps that are available. Discharge from the well
may often be limited by the pump, and not necessarily by the available
yield of the pervious stratum. For determining the approximate maximum
capacity of deep well pumps Table 8 may be used.
NOTE - Pumps should be selected to operate at their normal fated speeds. Addi-
tional capacity is available at speeds greater than normal. Thw, some mergtn of safety
alway! exists.

7. INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF WELLPOINTS

7.1 Pressure and Quantity o£ Water for Jetting WeUpoiats - For
jetting down wcllpoints into the ground, water may be required to be at
a pressure of up to 14·5 kg/emS and up to 900 litres of water may be required
for a single wellpoint.
7.2 Cisy Overlying Pervious StratulD - If a layer of clay overlies the
water bearing stratum, it is often more convenient to bore through the
clay by hand auger, rather than attempting jetting through it.
7.3 Sandiug iu - The process of sanding in the points may be followed
as an important safeguard against drawing fine materials from the ground
which might clog the system or cause subsidence. 'Sanding in' should
be done as follows:
'After jetting down the wellpoints to the required level, the jetting
water supply should be cut down to a low velocity sufficient to keep
the hole around the poin- open. Coarse sand should then be fed
around the annular space to form a supplementary filter around the
point and the water then cut off A rapid pouring of filter materials
tends to bridge the hole, while an intermittent pouring causes heavy
segregation of the filter materials, resulting in obstructions to vertical
drainage.'
VI 'Sandiug in' in Highly Permeable Gravel- There may be difficulty
in sanding in a wellpoint in highly permeable gravels, because the jetting
water will be dissipated into the surrounding ground and will not reach
the surface around the riser pipe. Normally, a wellpoint does not need
'sanding in' in these conditions, but If it so happens that the coarse gravels
are overlying sand with the wellpoints termmaung m the latter, the well.
points must be inserted in a lined bore hole, the lining tubes being with.
drawn after the filter sand is placed.
7.5 Pervious Stratulll Overlying Clay - If the pervIous stratum is
immediately underlain by clay, the wellpoints can be installed in holex
penetrating about I m into the clay and backfilled with sand, so that the
water level in the wellpoints during pumping can be maintained at 01'"
below the bottom of the pervious stratum. This procedure will reduce
or eliminate seepage that would otherwise bypass the wellpoints if they
were installed only with theu- tips at the top of the clay stratum.

18
 IS : 9759· 1981
7.6 Sand Drains
7.6.1 UJe ~ Troubles may arrse in a dewatering scheme in the form
of breaks in the drawdown curves If impervious layers of silt or clay (even
as thm as 3 mm) are met in water bearing sandy soils. These troubles
can be largely overcome by installing sand drains. Holes can be jetted
on the side of wellpomts away from the excavation and be filled with sand.
These sand columns will provide a path down which the water can seep
through the wellpom t5 more readily than towards the sides of the excava..
non. Weeping from the side of the excavation can thus be prevented.
7.6.2 Design tf Sand Drams
7.6.2.1 Hydraulic head tosses - The drain. should be of such size,
permeability and spacing as to conduct the flow to the lower sand stratum
WIth small hydraulic head loss Sand or gravel filled drains are not effective
when installed in highly pervlOus sods, because they do not have enough.
hydraulic carrying capacity to permit flow to the lower stratum without
excessive head loss
NOTE - For design of sand drams standard formulae be used.

7.7 Installing Header Pipes - After selecting the required header pipes,
the header pipehne should be fitted with plug cocks of suitable size at the
required spacmg. laid along the line. The wellpoints can then be con,
nected to the respective plug cocks through flexible connections. The
header pipeline should be connected through valves to pumps of required.
number and capacity which, in turn, should be connected to a common
discharge pipe leading to a basin or a ditch at a considerable distance
away from the SIde.

7.8 WeUpointing in Sheet Piled Excavation, Position ofWeUpoints ~

III the case of "dlpo<ntiag in sheet piled cxcsvstton, the wdlpomts should
be placed close to the toe of the sheet piles, to ensure lowermg the water
level between the sheet pile rows.
7.9 Dewatering Operation
7.9.1 Necessary Checks hefore Slarting - The dewatering operation should
be started only after checking up all engine parts and priming of the pumps.
The whole pIpe line system should be checked against leakage. If leakages
are detected, they should be properly mended with paints and by tightening
the joints.
7.9.2 Air-Sucking hy Wellpoints - In cases where the flow per weUpoint
is less than expected and the drawdown goes deeper, the wellpoints may
start sucking air. This may be indicaled by the fluctuations of the vacuum
gauge fitted to the wellpoint pump, and discharge of excessive air from
the vacuum pump outlet The air sucking can be stopped by suitably
adjusting the plug cocks to increase friction loss.

19
IS , 9759. 1981
7.9.3 Repairing Choked Wellpoints - In spite of using graded filter materials,
a few wellpoints may get choked by finer silty particles These dead
points can be made active by developing the shrouding material with
jetting of water.
7.9.4 Protection of Pump Bast - Care should be taken to see that the pump
bases are not flooded due to the flow of water through the sandy soil. This
may make the pump base quite slushy and cause tilting of the pumps.
In such situations, a few wellpoints and sand drains can be installed on the
basin side of the pumps to intercept this flow.

8. INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF DEEP WELL SYSTEMS

8.1 Installation of Deep Wells - The following points should be taken
note of while installing deep wells.
8.1.1 The outer casing of the bore hole, which is sunk first, should have
a diameter some 20 to 30 em larger than the inner casing. The diameter
of the latter depends on the size of the submersible pumps.
8.1.2 The inner casing, which is inserted after completion of the bore
hole, should be provided with a perforated screen over the length where
the dewatermg of the soil is required and it should terminate in a 3·6 In
length of unpcrforated pipe to act as a sump to collect any fine mater-ial
which may be drawn through the filter mesh.
8.1.3 The perforated screen may consist of ordinary well cas109 slots
or holes burned through the well and brass mesh spot - welded round
the outside. Slots are preferable to holes, since there is less risk of blockage
from round stones.
8.1.4 The effective screen area can be increased by welding rods longi-
tudinally or spirally onto the casing to provide a clear space between the
mesn and tne casing.
8.1.5 If centrifugal pumps are used III a deep well system, the tops of
the screens should be set below the computed water surface in the well.
If the wells are pumped by deep well pumps, the bottoms of the wells
should be set to provide sufficient length of submerged screen to admit
the flow without excessive head loss.
8.2 Pouring the Filter Material ~ After the well casing is installed,
graded filter material can be placed between it and the outer bore hole
casing over the length to be dewatered. The outer casing should be.
withdrawn m stages as the filter material is placed. The remaining space
above the screen can be backfilled with any available material. The
water in the well should then be surged by a boring tool to promote flow
back and forth through the filter, to get rid of any unwanted fines which
faU into the sump and are cleaned out by bailer before the submersible
pump is installed.

20
 IS : 9759· 1981
9. SUMP PUMPING
9.1 General- The method is essentral where wcllpointing or bored wells
cannot be used because of boulders or other massive obstructions in the
ground, and it 1<; the only pracucal m . . thod for rock excavations. However,
it has the dls3.dvant"1g~ that th- ground water flows towards the excavation
with a high head on steep alop as, and there is a risk of the coHapsc of the
sides. There is also the risk in open or timbered excavation, of instability
of the base due to upward seepage towards the pumping sump. The
cost of installing and maintaining the plant is, however, comparatively
low.
9.2 Essential Features
9.2.1 The sump should be made below thc general level of thc excava-
tion. It can b- placed at one or more corners or sides.
9.2.2 The floor of the excavation should be made clear of standing
water. For this, a small ditch should be dug around the bottom of the
excavation falling towards the sump. It should be sufficiently wide to
keep the velocity low enough to prevent erosion.
Safeguards against erosion can also be taken by placing boards across
the dttch, or by stone or concrete paving, Open jointed pipes can also
be lard, surrounded by graded stone or gravel filter material.
9.2.3 Where the ground water is present in a permeable stratum over-
lying a clay, and the excavation is taken down mto tile latter material,
it is preferable to have the pumping sump at the base of the permeahle
stratum. This procedure reduces the pumping head and avoids softening
of the day at the base of the excavation.
9.2.4 The greatest depth to which the water table may be lowered by
sump method is not much more than 7,5 m below the sump, depending
upon it, type and mechanical efficiency.
9.2.5 For large depth of excavation, the pumps can be installed at a
Iowa level. Use can also be made of sinking pump or submersible deep
well pumps suspended by chains and progressively lowered down a timbered
shaft or perforated steel tube.
9.2.6 For deep excavations, a useful procedure can be to sink the pumping
sump for the full depth of the excavation by m-ans of a umbered shaft
with spaces between the poling boards to allow the water to flow into the
shaft. Gravel filter materials should be pack d behind the timbers if
excessive fine material is washed through 'I'Ius method ensures dry
working condition for the subsequent bulk excavation, and It also provides
an exploratory shaft for obtaining inform.uron on ground conditions to
supplement that found from borings.
9.2.7 Adequate standby pumping plant of a opacity at least 100 percent
of the steady pumping rate should b- provided for use in emergency.

21
IS : 9759· 1981
9.2.8 Type, of pump' suitable for operating for opcn sumps arc given
in Table 9.

10. CONTROL OF SURFACE WATER

10.1 General-~ In laying out a dewatering system, adequate measures
should he taken to control surface water, as otherwise floodmg of the pump
can result in failure of the system. Uncontrolled run-off also can cause
serious erosion of slopes. The measures include dikes, ditches, sumps and
pumps, and mulching and seeding to minimise slope erosion.
10.2 Essential Factors for Surface Control Measures - In selecting
and designing measur-es to control surface water, the following factors
should be considered:
a) Duration of construction,
b) Frequency of rainfall occurrence,
c) Intensity of rainfall and the resulting run-off,
d) Size of area to be protected, and
c) Available sump storage.
10.3 Run-Off Measurement - - The rate of run-off, Q. can be computed
from the following equation:
Q. = 0·278 CiA
where
C a constant, ranging From 0 to I;
rainfall rate In mm per hour;
A drainage area, in sq km; and
Q. peak rate of flow, in Cu tul»,
10.4 Dikes and Ditches
10.4.1 A dike can be burlc around the top of the excavation to eliminate
run-off into the excavation from the surrounding area.
111.4.2 Dikes should be high enough to prevent water from overtopping
them and of sufficie-nt seotton to withstand he ad against them. The top
of the dike should be at least 30 em above the computed elevation of the
surface water to be impounded. The width of the dike should be 40 to
150 em with slopes of I on 2 or 2·5.
10.4.3 Run-off retained by the dikes can be pumped off or conducted
to sumps in the bottom of the excavation by pipes or line channels, and
then pumped out of the excavation.
10.4.4 Ditches should contain ample allowance for silting, freeboard
and storage. Velocities of flow shall be low enough to reduce the extent
of maintenance necessary to keep the ditch unobstructed.
 IS : 9759 - 1981
10.4.5 Dikes can be combined with duches and located excavation
slopes to control run-off and reduce slope erosion.
10.4.6 Sumps and Pumps - Tne required capacity of pumps for pumping
surface run-off can be estimated from the following expression:
Q.n (h.-VIT
whc re
Q.l> = total pump capacity,
QR average rate of run-off,
V volume of sumps, and
T duration of rainfall.

11. SETTLEMENT OF ADJACENT GROUND SURFACE

11.1 Geaeral- The effective pressure at a point near an excavation
where the ground water is being lowered by pumping is increased by an
amount equivalent to the head of water which existed above the level
before dewatering. This increase in effective pressure will cause conso ... . .
Iidaticn of the compressible strata with corresponding settlement of the
compressible strata with corresponding settlement at ground level. The
effects arc severe in soft clays and peats. Loose sands under condition
of fluctuating water table also undergo appreciable settlements. Little
or no trouble need be feared in dense sands and gravels, provided the
ground water' low...:nng system has efficient filters to prevent loss of fines
from the soil.
11.2 Precaution - To maintain the existing ground water conditions in
shallow deposits, the water can be discharged into an 'absorption' ditch
at ground level. To m-rintarn the existing head in lower pervlOus layers
water can be discharged into the injection or 'rechargmg" wells.

23
IS 9759 - 1981

APPENDIX A
(Clause 5.1, and Table I)
METHOD OF ELECTRO-OSMOSIS

A-I. ELECTRO-OSMOSIS
A-I.I Use -- Some slits, clayey silts and fine clayey silrv sands may be
troublesome to dram, br-causc capillary [OTn s acting on the pore water
prevent It<; flowing Ire.ely under gravity to a filter well or sump. In such
cases successful d-amage can be achn vcd by well" or wcllpom t~ in com hi-
nanon WIth flow of ek ctrn iry through the soil to the we lls The clr ctrrcal
drainage mr thod, or clcctro-osmosrs, 1<; a costly method, but under certatn
circumstances, It is the only practical means of soil stabilization. There
IS al~fl no advantage 1Il applying this method fur de watering unle-ss pern1e-
ability of the SOIl to be dr amcd 15 sigmficanrly lower than 0 5 X 10-' cm/sec.
A..l.2 Electrodes - Anodes can consist of any available conductor, such
as steel P'Pv . Tall, etc Cathodes usually consist of small diameter wells
or wcllpomts, but with sufficient diameter to admit a suction pipe (usually
25 mm diameter) from a pump. Anodes and cathodes should extend
in depth at least 15m 0, low the bottom of the slope or excavation.
A-I.3 Spacing of Electrodes -- Cathodes can be installe d in one or
more Imc-sand "paced on 7 5 to 10.5 m ccn tt cs, WIth anodes mstallr d midway
between tilt" cathodes.
NOfE - The proper spacing of electrodes depends mainly on the voltage available
at the site Potennal gradients of more than 0 5 volr per (j~l between electrodes should
not be exceeded for long tum apphcaucr-s, because }ugh(r gradients result In excessrve
energy losses 10 tht fUI III of I t-,Itmg of the ground
A-I.4 Voltage Requirement - Applu d voJtaW" va, y between 30 and
100 v lb. the IOWIT V( 'ltagt -, bcing satisfactory where the ground water
con ram -, a lllgh conccntr auon of rmnvr als
A-1.5 Power Requirem.ent - POWCl Tl qurrcd per well may range from
0,] to 25 kW, for n <pr-ctive gradients of about 1·5 and 4 volts per 30 em
distance between electrodes.
A-l.6 Current Requirement - Current requirements range between
15 A and 30 A The required current can be esumatc d from the following
cxpreSSlOm,. This equation is not applicable to very low clay contents:
It = 41c-25
where
I current, in A, required per gram of water expelled;
t time in sec; and

24
 IS : 9759. 1981
c = cia} content of soil, percent (percent by weight of soil
finer th on 0 002 rn m)
A-I.7 Collection of Water - - When a dire-ct e-lr ctric CUITent is passed
between the electrode s, wate-r contained In the sor! will migratr- through
the ;011 from the anode to the cathode Watn collected in the well (cathode)
can then be removed by pumpmg.
NOTE- Smce the rate of discharge at a cathode IS small, mterrnittent pumping may
suffice.

A-L8 Discharge - An esurnau- of the discharg« Q, to a well can be

obtained from tlu- followmg CXpn-sslons-
Q" "-- k e 'tJ a.:
where
k(J coefficient of cle ctrovmocic pcr mc abrl ity.
o .:J> 10- 01 em per volt per em,
z", = gradIent In volts rex em, be tween electrodes;
z depth of soil being stabilized in em; and
a ~ effc cnvc spacing of wells ill em.
Non.- For practical purposes, the value of k. can be assumed to be the same for
sands, sdts or day.

APPENDIX B
(Clause 6.3,4.3, Note 1)
FLOW NET METHOD

8-1. GENERAL
8-1.1 Use -~~ A flow net can be a useful tool whcn designing dewatering
systems, especially when cornphcated boundary conduions are present
A flow net may be constructed either to represent the plan view of the
seepage pattern, or a sectional view, depending OIl the requlfeIneut in
the design.
8-1.2 Flow Line - The path followed by a particle of water flowing
through a saturated soil mass is called a 'flow line',

25
IS : 9759 - 1981

B-1.3 Eqaipot~ntial Lin~ - It rs the lme at eve ry point of wluch the

total head 15 the same.
B-1.4 Flo... Net - A combmation of flow lines and equipotential hnes,
which satisues the following charactenstics, is called a flow net:
a) Flow lines and equipotential hnes meet at right angles; and
b) Intersection of flow lines and equipotential lines forms curvilmear
squares, when the permeabihry in all directions is identical.

B-1.S Discharge from Flow Net - From the flow net, the discharge
per unit length perpendicular to the direction of flow can be obtained by:

q k (H-h,) : :
,
where
k coefficient of permeability of the sod,
N, number of flow channels, and
N, total number of equipotential drops between the full head
H and the head h, at the point of oxu.
B-1.6 Piau Flow N~t - The plan flow net should be drawn with thc
assumption that the flow hnes are horizontal and as such, the equipotential
lines are vertical. The analysis thus essentially requires the flow to be
two-dimensional. The slot/wells, therefore, need to be fully penetrating.
CorrectIOns to be made for partially penetrating cases are mentioned in
B-1.10.
B-1.7 Discharg~ frOID Plan Flow Net - The total discharge Q is
obtained from plan flow net by multiplying the value of 'q' (given in B-l.S)
by the thickness D of the pervious stratum, as follows:
Q = g.D
B-1.8 Spacing of Wellpoints{Wells frOID Flow - Wclb should be
spaced proportionally to the flow lines
&1.9 Limitations in the UR of Plan Flow Net - As mentioned in
B-l.6 plan tow net analysis is effective for two-dimensional problems.
j

The converging flows m the vrcmiry of partially penetratmg wells

present a three-dimensional case for which plan flow net analysis will give
erroneous results, except when the penetration is at least 90 percent
Correction factors can, however, be applied for getting correct results from
plan flow net. This is given in B-1.10.
B-1.10 Corr~olls to be Applied to Computations from Pi.... Flow
Net - Oorrected relationships between discharge Q", per well and the
26
 IS : 9759 - 1981

head htIJ at the well taking into consideranon the penetration of the well,
and also the fact that the system consist, of a finite group of wells and not
a continuous slor. are grven below:
Q"N.l a
H -h.. = - (n - 1- - In - - ) : for full) penetrating wells
k» N! '2 21fT"
and

n-s; ~ ~' (n:; + 0.) : for partially penetrating wellv

where a is the well spaclng; D is the depth of the pervious stratum,
r.., is effective well radius, and 9a 15 called 'uplift factor'. The values
of fJQ for various penetrations of the well screen mto the pervIOUS stratum
has been mentioned in various text books.

27
 r;;
TAlILE I COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF DEWATElUNG SYSTEMS
(Clause 5 1)
Sc ME:.TKOD SoiLS SUITA.8LE USES ADVANTAGE! DISADV ANT AGES ,
No. FOR TREi\TIofE",-r

(I) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

..::..~
Sump pumpang Clean gravels and Open shallow Simplest pumpmg a) Fmes easily removed
coarse sa nds excavations equipment from ground
b) Encourages uistabiluv
of forma non
2 WdLpomt !oystem~ Soludy gravels Open excavations a) QUick and easy to a) Difficult to Install 111
With pumps down to nne mcludmg rolling mstall In suuablc SOIh. open gravels and
sands (with pipe trench grounds contaunng
proper control excavations cobbles and boulder <;
can also be used bl Ll.OI10mlCal for short b) Pumping must be
In silty sands) pumping periods of d. continuous aud noise o!
0:>
"" few weeks pump may be d. pro-
blem, In a built up <ired.
c) Suction lift IS lumted to
45to60m
d) If greater lowermg IS
needed rnuln-stage
mstallanon IS necessary
3 Deep bored filter Gravels to silty Deep excavation a) No buutanon on High mstallanon cost
wells With elec- fin., sand, and In through or amount of drawdown as
tric submersible water bearing above water there IS for suction
pumps rocks beanng pumping
formauons b) A well can be construe-
ted to draw water
from several layers
throughout Its depth
c) Wells can be SI ted clear
of working area
d) No norse problem if
ma4.ns electnciw supply
lS available
 4 Electro-osmosis Silts, silty clays Open excavanon .\ny appropriate SOils can Installations and running
(set' Appendi.x and some peats III appropriate be used when no other eons arc usually high
A) soils or to speed water lowering method
dissipation of IS applicable
construction pore
pressures

5 Jet eductoe Sands (with pro- a) Deep excava- a, No hmuauon on a) Imual installation l!'1
system per control can tions (m space account of draw-down fairly costly
also be used in so confined b) Rakmg holes are h) RISk of flooding
Silty sands and that mulu- possible excavauon If high
sandy Silt) stage wellpomt- pressure water main
mg cannot be 15 ruptured
used) c) Optimum operation
b) Usually mere dIfficult to control
appropnate to
low permeability
soils

~
'"

1il

....~
...j
 ..
fIl

TABLE 2 FLOW TO A SLOT FROM A SINGLE UNE SOURCE

(Ckzus, 6.2.2) ~,
PENETRATION FLOW CONDmON DISCHARGE FOR\fl.'L.\E R.-.
...
kDx
...:I
Fully penetrating slot Artesian Q ~T-(H-h,) H ee cnginal ground water level
he e-ground water level at the use
kx Q =ftow rate
Gravity Q =2L - (H'-h',)
L e-drstance of the slot from the
bne source
D eedepth of pervious stratum
\' -edrstance perpendicular to the
direction of flow

Q tDx (H-h,)
PartlaHy-penetrattn/it slot Artesian
o
'" - L-'+ Ell.

Gravity Q ~(O 73+027 H- he) ~':-_(H2_"2o) E~ e.extra-length factor as descn-

H 2£ bed by varrous aurhcrs

Fo' LfH;;'3
Non: - The maximum residual head, hD downstream from the slot can be computed from the following r-XPII:S310ns'

(l) For 'artesian' case

E, (H-h.) +he. (00)
hD L+EA

(u) For 'gravity' case ]

"D~ho [ L1,48 (H~/je)--1 I (0'0)

for L/H;;'3
 TABLE 3 FLOW TO A SLOT FROM TWO LINE SOURCES
(Clause 6.2.2)

PENETRATlON FLOW CONDITION DISCHARGE FORMUL \E RE'IoIARh'5

2kDx (H-h e) Q = flow to the slot

Parnally penetrating slot Artesian Q ~ L+rn r =a factor which depends on the
ratio WID where

<.0 GCd.Vlty Q.~ (0 73+027 H-he)~ (H2._h,J e ) W=penetration of the slot uno the
H L pel YIOllS stratum (To be deter-
- nuned from Fig. 2)
Fully penetraung slot The flow IS twrce that computed NOTE - The slot IS nudway between
from Table 2 for the respective the hne sources
cases

NOTE -- At distances J from the slot, III excess of <i.bout 1 3 D the head II increases linearly as y increases, and can be
computed as follows.

D
It -he-HH-ke) y'r-
L+yD
!i:

~•
..
!
IS : 9759 - 1981

TABLE f FLOW TO TWO PARTIALLY PENETRATING SLOTS MIDWAY

BETWEEN AND PARALLEL TO TWO UNE SOURCES
(Claw, 6.2 2)
FLOW DISCHARGE FORMULAE REMARKS
CONDmON

Artesian Flow from one source to the closest of the two

slots 15 obtained from equations of Table 2.

Head IhD' midway between SIOlS IS obtained from

Table 2.
Flow from either slot is determined from k 1 and k" can be obtained
Table 2. from FIg. 3
The head '''D' midway between the slots l'i glw:n
by
k, k,
hD ~ h. [ -L- (H - h.) + 1]

TABLE 5 HEAD REDUCTION FOR FINITE LENGTH OF SLOT

(CltJWIS 62.3 and 6 3.4.4)

FLOW
PENETRATION I-lE.AD REDUCTION AT THE WELLS
CONDmoN

Q. I,,_a_ Q.L
Artesian n-s; -
2.,..kD 21f T II' + kD.
Fully
penetraung
well 2Q.L Q. a
Gravnv H'l.-h 2 w =
""""k(J + --;k In
21TT.

Partially
penetra llOg
Artesian H-h. ~
Q.
kD <+ + 8. )
Gravity The formula for fully pcnctratmg case can be used
provided Q. IS computed from an appropriate
equation.

NOTE 1 - Q..=dJScharge per well.

NOTE 2 - eo =upht factor (for detads as gIven III various text books).
NOTE 3 -Il. -e head at the well

32
 TABLE 6 FLOW TO A SINGLE WELL CfRCULAR SOURCE
(Claus, 62.4)

PENETRATION FLOW CONDInoN DISCHARGE FORM1.'1...AE REMARKS

Fully penetration Artesian 2"kD (H-h.) (1) Q." = flow to the well
well Q. In (Rlr.)

NOTE - For a well located at distance E (11) h w = head at the well

from the centre of the Circle of Influence, the (m) R = radius of influence
flow IS grven by' (IV) Well is at the centre of the
Circular sources
2"kD (H-h,.:
ln [(R'-E')/Rr.l

'" k1t (H2_h~ .. )

'" Gravnv Q. I1I (Rlrll'\

Parually penetratmg k.[(H-Si'-I'][l 03 io-, I B.Il G = ratio of flow [10m parti-

Orav ltv QW In. (Rtrl/!) /- ( • ~ -h-)Sln H J
.....ell ally penetrating well to a
fully penetrating well, COl
Q'P~ 2k.kD (H-hw) G the Same draw down at the
Artesian periphery of the wells
(in (Rlrl/lJ

NOTE- G IS given by the following expression.

;l
W(
G=- 1 + 7\J -
D
r: -cos "wiD)
2~
---
2

In which wID equals the penetration of the well screen mto the pervious stratum expressed as a decimal. ,
..!~
IS : 9759 - 1981

TABLE 7 FLOW TO A SINGLE WELL-LINE SOURCE

(Cla/ise b 2.5)

FLOW
DISCHARC.L FORMULAE. REMARKS
CONDITIO-,

Artesian 2.kD (H-h.) Q. = flow to the well

Q. -
I. (2L/,.)

Gravity .1. (H'-h'.) H-h..." = drawdown at the well

Q. III (2Llrw)

TABLE 8 CAPACITY OF DEEP WELL PUMPS

(Uau" b 3 136)

PUMP BOWl SIZE. em PRFH.RIH"I) '}.hNIMlJ\l \PPROXIMAT£ MAXIMUM

(l\bNlMUM ID OF WELL PUMP ID OF WELL, em CAPACITY 0·0036 m 3Jm
WILL ENTER)

10 115 90
11') IJ 160
I:' 20 450
0"
20 -J 600
25 30 1200
30 35 1 BOO
3j 40 2400
40 4", 3000

34
 IS I 9759. 1981

TABLE 9 PUMPS FOR SUMP PUMPING

(Claus, 9.2.8)

SL TYPE OF OuTPUT
No. PUMP

Handlift From 54·6 math for 3 em suction; SUitable for intermittent pump-
diaphragm up to 655 mlJh for 10 em sue- 109 m small quantities
lion

2 Motor-driven From 983 m'/h for 7 5 em suction Can deal with sand and silt In
diaphragm up to 1 747 mSIh. for 10 em limited quantities
suction

3 Pneumatic sump From 1 310 m3/h against 15 m Useful for intermittent pumping
pumps head to 2 620 IIl'/h agamst S m on sues where compressed air
head. at 7·3 kg/em"' airpressure is available, can deal with
sand and silt in limited
quannues

4 Self-pnmmg From 2 184 m'fh for 5 em suction Sand and sdt in water cause
centrifugal to 19656 mll/h for 20 em suc- excessive wear on impeller for
tion long periods of pumpmg,
therefore. desirable to have
efficient filter around sump
or pump sucnon. Widely
used for steady pumpmg of
fairly clean water. Smallest
Units can be carried by one
man

Rotary 1638 m3 jh for 7 5 em pump, Can deal with considerable

duplacement agamet 6 m head quantities of ~1l1t and sand
(monopump)

6 Sinking pumps From 875 m3jh for 5 em suction Can pump against 60 m head.
to 10 920 m 3 /h for ) 5 em Suc- SUitable for working In deep
tion shafts or other confined spaces
where pumps must be pro..
gressrvely lowered with falling
water table. Can be vertical
spmdle centruugal pump or
steam operated pulsometer
type

35
IS I 9759. 1981
(Contin""d from Pdge 2)

Memkrs Represenhng
Dsecr-r DIRECTOR Rg<:EARCH Mmmry of Railways (RDSO)
(SM II)
DEPUTY Dtaecroe STANDARD (CB I) (Alternatel
DIRECTOR High\VaY~
Research Laboratory, Madras
SHRI S, MUKHERJEE Cemmdra Company Limned Bombay
SHRI B K. PANTHAKV Hmdustan Construction Company Lunlted,
&mbay
SURf P G RAMAKRI~HNAN EngmeerIng Coustrucnon Corporation Limited,
Madras
SHR. G. B SINGH (AJlerna!/!)
SHRr S A R~DlJl Gammon India Bombay
SURf G R. HARIDAS (Alternate)
SURI A K. SARKAR Public Work~ Department, Government of West
Bengal, Calcutta.
SIlRI D SHA.RMA Central Burldmg Research Instuute. Roorkee
SIIRI AMAR SINOH (Allernat~)
SIIRIO S SRIVASTAVA Cement Corporauon of India, New Delhi
SHiU S K CHATTERJEE (Alterllate)

Adhoc Panc 1for Preparation of Indian Standard Oil Guidehucs for

Dewatl nng Dunng Construction, BDC 43 .6/P,
Member
DR U BASU Engmeers India Ltd. New Delhi

36
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