1.
Overview of Groundwater Control (Dewatering)
Dewatering is the process of removing or lowering the groundwater table to ensure safe
construction conditions.
• Engineering Purposes: To provide a dry working surface, stabilise excavation
banks to avoid slides, and prevent soil disturbances like boils or piping that
reduce bearing power,.
• Selection Criteria: The choice of system depends on soil permeability, the
depth of the water table, the extent of the area, and proximity to existing
structures.
2. Well Point System
This is the most common and versatile dewatering method for construction.
• Components: Consists of perforated metal or plastic pipes (5.0–7.5 cm
diameter, 60–120 cm long) covered with a screen,. These are attached to riser
pipes and connected to a common header pipe,.
• Mechanism: A vacuum pump draws water through the points into the header
pipe for discharge. Points are typically installed via jetting or driving at 0.75m to
3m intervals,.
• Limitations: The system is limited by suction lift, generally effective only for
lowering the water level up to 6 metres below the pump,,.
• Suitability: Most effective in sandy and gravelly soils; it is too slow for clays and
difficult to install in soil containing boulders,,.
3. Deep Well System
Deep wells are employed when the required drawdown exceeds the physical limits of
suction systems.
• Components: Utilises cased boreholes (drilled using piling rigs) equipped with
submersible or turbine pumps installed at the bottom,.
• Mechanism: A perforated screen is placed over the dewatering depth,
surrounded by graded filter material to prevent fines from entering the pump,.
• Applications: Suitable for depths greater than 8 metres. It is used in gravels to
silty fine sands and is prioritised for deep excavations or where artesian water is
present below an impermeable stratum,,.
• Advantages: There is no limit on the amount of drawdown as long as there is
enough submergence for the pump, and wells can be sited clear of the active
working area.
4. Vacuum Dewatering Method
Gravity-based methods (like standard well points) often fail in fine-grained soils where
capillary tension holds water.
• Target Soil: Fine sands and silts with low permeabilities ($10^{-4}$ to $10^{-6}$
m/sec),.
• Mechanism: A vacuum is applied to a sealed-off filter section of a well. This
increases the hydraulic gradient by utilizing atmospheric pressure to push
water toward the well,.
• Configuration: Vacuum wells must be spaced very closely, typically 1 to 2.5m
apart, to be effective.
5. Electro-Osmotic Method
This is a specialised technique for low-permeability soils where traditional pumping is
impossible,.
• Theoretical Basis: Fine-grained soil particles have negative charges that attract
positive ions (cations) in the pore water,.
• Mechanism: Direct Current (DC) electricity is applied through electrodes.
Anodes (steel rods) and Cathodes (filter wells) are inserted into the soil,.
Cations move toward the cathode, dragging water molecules with them via
viscous flow,.
• Operation: Once the water accumulates at the cathode well, it is removed using
conventional pumps.
• Suitability: Used exclusively in low-permeability silts and soft saturated
clays,.
• Disadvantages: Installation and running costs are usually very high.
Summary Comparison Table for Exam,
Max Depth
Method Suitable Soils Main Advantage
(Drawdown)
Sandy gravels to Quick and easy to install in
Well Point ~6.0 m
fine sands suitable soils.
Gravels to silty > 8.0 m No limit on drawdown; clear of
Deep Well
fine sands (Unlimited) working area.
Fine sands and Limited (3.0–6.0 Works in silty soils where gravity
Vacuum
silts m) drainage fails.
Electro- Silts, silty clays, Only method effective for very
Variable
Osmosis peats low-permeability clay.