Solving the Problems Associated With Groundwater
Water during excavation for basement construction is an inconvenience in any construction. This is simply because groundwater does not create the best environment for excavation and other construction works. If not suitably managed, or drained, groundwater can cause problems and setbacks in the excavation process.
It is even worse during deep basement construction. Therefore, to successfully continue with the construction, it is important that the water is controlled and managed. Contractors who attempt to excavate the water without considering the right groundwater control measures are likely to experience:
- Increased flooding in the area due to water seepage and also inflow from the other soil and water-bearing rocks that are surrounding the area.
- Unstable excavation side slopes and base because of high water pressure. The pressure can also cause the excavation to collapse.
- Decreased efficiency in operation because of the setbacks from the seepage. This may force a contractor to stop using earthmoving equipment and instead use submersible equipment, for efficiency.
Groundwater can alter the direction and pace of any construction project. However, through dewatering techniques, and products like dewatering bags, you can be able to control the water and resume your construction.
Dewatering Techniques
Dewatering involves the processes of intercepting groundwater on a construction site and around it. Here are some of the dewatering techniques that you can use. One of the most efficient methods that you can use is sump pumping. This is where the groundwater is allowed to seep into the site. Once done, it is collected in sumps and pumped away.
This technique is only efficient when the amount of water on the site is not enough to cause instability to the excavation. Otherwise, you may need to apply other drainage methods like:
Deep well dewatering
Deep wells are best for deep basement construction projects. This is because the soil is highly permeable to water. In this method, several wells are bores, and each well is fitted with a multi-stage electric submersible pump. Water is then pumped at the same time from each well. This lowers the level of groundwater on the site.
Horizontal well dewatering
These are suitable for sewers, cables, and pipeline excavations. Here a specialized trenching machine system is used to drain the groundwater from the soil. As the water is pumped out, the water table becomes lower resulting in a dry excavation site.
Conclusion
Remember to always use high-quality geotubes and other product when dealing with groundwater. These methods including ejector well dewatering will come in very handy in achieving a dry site.
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