Methods of Dewatering Excavations at Construction Site

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Construction Site

Dewatering of excavations are required at construction sites generally for foundation works.
Various methods for dewatering of excavations are described.

Firm and sound working conditions are indispensable when construction of buildings,
powerhouse, dams, and other structures has to be executed. These structures not only require
a dry base for their foundations but also a good water-table-stability in the girth.

Dewatering of any excavated area is done in order to keep the excavation bottom dry, to
prevent the leakage of water or sand and to avoid upheaval failure. Dewatering could turn out
to be a herculean task if one doesn’t adopt the right method.

The different methods available for dewatering of excavations at constructions sites are not
necessarily interchangeable as each one has a narrow range of applications therefore adopting
the right method of dewatering for a particular ground condition is always a critical and a
difficult decision to make.

Minor amount of water can always be pumped out by creating a sump but when other factors
like continuous seepage, excessive smudge come into play one has to resort to a bit of
sophistication.

Methods of Dewatering Excavations at Construction Site

There are four important dewatering methods one should be aware of:

o Wellpoint method of dewatering,

o Eductor wells,

o Open sump pumping and

o Deep wellpoint method

Wellpoint Method of Dewatering Excavations

 1) A series of wells
of required depth are created in the vicinity of the excavated area from where the water has to
be pumped out. The wells are arranged either in a line or a rectangular form where the
wellpoints are created at a distance of at least 2m from each other.

2) Riser pipes or dewatering pipes are then installed into those closely spaced wells which on
the surface are connected to a flexible swing pipe which is ultimately appended to a common
header pipe that is responsible for discharging the water away from the site. The purpose of
using a flexible swing pipe is just to provide a clear view of what is being pumped and the
purpose of header pipe is to create suction as well as discharge the water off the working area.

3) One end of the header pipe is connected to a vacuum pump which draws water through
notches in the wellpoint. The water then travels from the wellpoints through the flexible swing
pipe into the header pipe to the pump. It is then discharged away from the site or to other
processes to remove unwanted properties such as contaminants.

4) The drawdown using this method is restricted to around five to six meters below the
wellpoint pump level. If a deeper drawdown is required, multiple stages of wellpoints must be
used.
Fig: Details of Wellpoint Method for Excavation Dewatering
Eductor Wells Method of Dewatering Excavations
The method is very similar to the wellpoint method of dewatering; the only difference lies in
the usage of high pressure water in the riser units instead of vacuum to draw out water from
the wellpoints. The method uses the venturi principle which is the reduction in fluid pressure
that results when a high pressure fluid flows through a constricted section of a pipe.

A high pressure supply main feeds water through a venturi-

tube just above the well-screen, creating a reduction in pressure which draws water through
the riser pipe. The high pressure main feeds off the return water. The biggest advantage of
using the eductor system is, the water table can be lowered from depths of 10-45 m if multiple
pumps are operated from a single pump station. This method therefore becomes economically
competitive at depth in soils of low permeability.

Open Sump Pumping Method of Dewatering Excavations

This is the most common and economical method of dewatering as gravity is the main playing
force. Sump is created in the excavated area into which the surrounding water converges and
accumulates facilitating easy discharge of water through robust solid handling pumps.

Its application is however confined to the areas where soil is either gravelly or sandy. Since the
bottom of the sump is situated at a level lower than that of the excavation bottom, it will
abridge the seepage way along which groundwater from outside seeps into the excavation zone
and as a result the exit gradient of the sump bottom will be larger than that on the excavation
surface.

If the excavation area is large, several sumps may be placed along the longer side or simply use
a long narrow sump which is called a ditch.

Deep Well Method of Dewatering Excavations

Just like the wellpoint method, wells are drilled around the excavated area, but the diameter of
wells in this case varies between 150-200mm. By creating deep wells around the vicinity, the
ground water is made to fall into them under the influence of gravity.

As a result, the ground water level in the surroundings would decline. According to the type and
arrangement of pumps, the depths of the wells could reach up to 30m. This method is generally
adopted when a heavy amount of water from the ground has to be drawn out.

Casings of diameter fitting to wells are installed

in order to retain the wells. Additionally, well screens and filters (between sidewalls and casing)
are used which serve as a filtering device therefore not letting the unwanted sediments enter
into the well. The water thus accumulated is pumped out using a submersible pump or a
centrifugal pump.

It is prudent to assess ground-permeability conditions beforehand since the whole process of

accumulation and pumping takes quite a bit of time. This may cause settlement in the nearby
areas and hence a different technique might need to be adopted.

Read More:
Selection of Excavation Dewatering System for Construction Works
Sumps and Ditches for Dewatering of Excavations -Uses and Advantages
Deep Well Systems For Dewatering of Excavations
Home/ Construction Engineering & Management / Deep Well Systems For Dewatering of
Excavations

Deep well systems are dewatering methods used to remove the water from pervious sand or
rocks formations beneath the excavations. This method can also be employed to remove the
artesian pressure of the ground area under consideration.

The method of deep well dewatering systems is more suitable in areas where deep excavations
are performed. This hence demands higher rate of pumping for dewatering. This is mainly
employed for the ground preparation for the construction of tunnels, dams, powerhouses,
shafts, and locks.

The excavations and the shaft made can be 300 feet in depth. These can be dewatered by
pumping from deep wells by using a turbine or a submersible pump.
The main significance of deep wells as a means of dewatering is that they can be installed all
around the periphery of the excavation. This will let the construction area to free from burden
by the equipment that is used for dewatering.

This is shown in figure-1. Here the excavation can be pre*drained for the complete depth.

Fig.1: Deep Well Dewatering System

Working and Arrangement of Deep Well System

The deep wells arrangement for the purpose of dewatering is similar to that for commercial
water wells. These systems will make use of a screen that have a diameter of 6 to 4 inches with
lengths ranging up to 300 feet.

When such a system is installed, a filter is placed around the screen. This arrangement helps to
prevent the infiltration of the foundation materials into the well. The installation of filter also
helps to improve the yield.
In order to dewater small deep excavations, the deep well systems can be used in conjunction
with the deep wells. This is applied for related works of tunnels, caissons sunk, shafts and the
areas with fine grained sand or stratified soils that are pervious. In areas, there are rock layer
below the ground table this method work best.

An increase in hydraulic gradient to the well because of the use of vacuum creates a vacuum
within the surrounding. This phenomenon avoids seepage from the perched water into the
excavation.

The installation of deep well system incorporating vacuum is shown in figure-2. This type
requires adequate vacuum capacity to undergo the dewatering operation efficiently.

Fig.2. The use of deep well with vacuum systems to dewater a shaft over a stratified ground
material.
To have sufficient wetted area of intake in the aquifer, adequate well depth have to be
provided. This helps to produce yield and interactive drawdown. In most of the civil engineering
applications, a depth of 60m with a typical depth value of 20m is used.

For a limited distance say 1 to 2m, the well might penetrate an impermeable layer lying below
the pumped aquifer. This is to behave as sump for the fines. The pump must be placed such a
level in the well so that the water circulation helps it to remain cool.

The site layout decides the spacing of the wells. But most commonly, the spacing used is 10 to
30m. The deepening of the well creates drawdown in areas. Sometimes these might be the
areas where the wells cannot be sited.

Special care and precaution must be taken so that with increase in drawdown no kind of
settlement is happening to the adjacent buildings.

The gravity flow of water into the well without affecting the unconsolidated strata that is being
pumped can be facilitated by the use of well screens.

Based on the type of duty performed, the material used can be steel or plastic. Use of different
metal will result in corrosion cells.

Operation of Deep Well System for Dewatering of Excavations

The operation of deep well dewatering requires electric supply from three phase generators.
For the use in long – term operations, it is recommended to have an automatic cut in generator
in case of a power failure.

This equipment is considered as an insurance requirement. Where electric power is not

available, the diesel operated shaft drive pumps is used.

It is advised to have standby pumps in case of any failure. We must calculate the time from the
well failure to the ingress of the water. For a short period of time, the adjacent well must have
the capability to take over the duty of the failed well. This short period is necessary for remedial
action.

In order to maintain the drawdown and to stop the pump from drying, level-monitoring
electrodes are placed at maximum and the minimum levels inside the borehole.

A proper and careful manual tuning of the surface recharge valve will help to maintain pumping
in a steady rate.

The pumps used for this purpose ranges from simple air lift pumps mainly used for short – term
dewatering activities. For large diameter wells, top drive vertical shaft pumps and submersible
electric pumps are good choice.

Do not use pumps to obtain higher output than that is essential. The use of large shaft driven
pipe must have vertical placement accurately with proper vertical liner and screen to have no
kind of vibration.

An electric submersible bore hole pump is the most versatile pump for deep well pumping.
Regular cleaning of pump is necessary. The maintenance will affect the output.

Suitability of Deep Well Dewatering System

The method is more suitable where long term dewatering has to be carried out. This will thus
work for large excavations for a variety of ground conditions.

These systems can help provide under-drainage of the overlying soil that is less permeable into
the permeable stratum that is pumped. This also helps to relieve the pressure below the
confining layer of clay.

Design of Deep Well Dewatering System

A detailed conceptual model has to be developed based on the ground investigation carried
out. It is very important to determine early the distance, the drawdown and the time results
based on the pumping tests carried out.
 Some of the basic steps that are involved in relation with the design of deep well dewatering
systems are:

1. The drawdown that is required for the well is initially determined. This will help to suit the
geometry of excavation.

2. The inflow into the excavation is calculated. The inflow in large areas can be assessed using the
flow nets. This can also check the potential during high inflow velocity that might cause piping or
boiling.

3. The yield and the wetted length of the trial well is calculated.

4. The number of wells and spacing is calculated. The zone interaction if any is found for those wells
at less than 20m centers.

5. The filter pack and the screen slots are designed to make sure that the aquifer is not drawn into
the well.

6. The entry velocity to the well is checked

7. Pump size is checked so that it suits the screen or the liner.

8. Sufficient working space for side slopes and excavation have to be provided.

9. The calculations are repeated so that an optimum design is obtained.

Sumps and Ditches for Dewatering of Excavations -Uses and Advantages

Home/ Construction Engineering & Management / Sumps and Ditches for Dewatering of
Excavations -Uses and Advantages

The application of sumps and ditches within an excavation is one of the elementary method of
dewatering employed in construction. The water entering these installed units can be pumped
out.

The general procedure of dewatering with sumps and ditches is depicted in the figure-1.
Fig.1. Dewatering Method by the Installation of Sumps and Ditches
The sump is located below the ground level of the excavation as shown in figure-1, at one or
more corners or the sides. The procedure involves the cutting of a small ditch around the
bottom of the excavation, that is falling towards the sump.

The sumps is the name given for the shallow pits that are dug along the periphery of the
excavation or the drainage area, which is named as ditches. Under the action of gravity, the
water from the slopes will flow to the sumps. The sumps collect the water and is later pumped
out.

Significant amount of seepage can result in raveling or sloughing or softening of the slope in the
lower part. The slump bottom may also be subjected to piping.

The above problems can be solved by the use of inverted filter that is of many layers. These
have coarser material in successive layers from the bottom of the sump pit to the upward
direction.

This is a simple method used for dewatering shallow excavations that have coarse grained soils
or the soils that have permeability that is greater than 10-3 cm/sec.

Suitability of Sumps and Ditches for Dewatering of Excavations

If the construction demands for lowering the water table or the ground water head of the area
to a depth greater than 1 feet, the method of sumps and ditches is not suitable.

If sumps and ditches are employed for greater depth lowering, seepage will be prominent that
will result in the instability of the excavation slopes. This wrong decision will also bring effects
that are detrimental for the integrity of the foundation soils of the area.
 In order to overcome the problems that arise due to minor raveling and to support the
collection of seepage water, it is recommended to employ filter blankets or drains in the sump
and ditch system installed.

Use of Sumps and Ditches in Cofferdams

In areas that are confined, the common method of excavation that is followed is the driving of a
sheet pile that is either wood or steel, below the subgrade elevation. Then the bracing is
installed and proceeds with the excavation of earth. Later the water that seeps into the
cofferdam area is pumped out.

The use of sumps and ditches in the dewatering of sheet excavation face the limitation similar
to that of open excavations. The formation of hydraulic heave at the bottom of the excavation
which is found to be very dangerous can be reduced by the driving of sheeting into the
impermeable strata that is underlying. This can help in the reduction of seepage into the
bottom of the excavation.

Those excavation carried out below the water table can be effectively conducted with the help
of sheeting and sump. This is merely dependent on the site conditions. The hydrostatic pressure
and toe support are the two factors that is to be considered important while designing the
sheeting and the bracing.

The construction process and the pumping out activities can be conducted smoothly by
covering the bottom of the excavation by means of a inverted sand and gravel filter blanket.

Advantages of Sumps and Ditches

The advantages of Sumps and Ditches are:

1. The method is widely used. It is appropriate for small depth lowering.

2. This method is found to be most economical one among dewatering systems while considering
the installation and the maintenance procedures

3. This method can be applied for most of the soil and rock conditions.
4. The site is mostly recommended where boulders or massive obstructions are met within the
ground.

5. The greatest depth up to which the water table can be lowered by this method is 8m

Disadvantages of Open Sump and Ditches

The disadvantages of this method are:

1. In areas where there is high heads or steep slopes, the method is not demanded. This method will
bring collapse of the slopes and cause dangerous problems

2. The use of sumps and ditches in open or timbered excavation will bring risk in the stability of the
base.

Selection of Excavation Dewatering System for Construction Works

Home/ Construction Engineering & Management / Selection of Excavation Dewatering System
for Construction Works

There are number of dewatering options available for excavations to facilitate construction
activities. The choice of best and suitable dewatering system brings economy in construction
activities. For this, it is essential to have knowledge on different dewatering systems and each
of their features in detail.

The best system is selected from different systems gathered. The choice of dewatering system
for a site condition mainly depends on the:

1. Location and site features

2. Type, size and the depth of excavation planned

3. Thickness and the type of stratification

4. Permeability of the foundation soul that is below the water table

5. Water table level of the area, where the dewatering to be performed

6. The potential damage a dewatering system is prone to

7. The cost of installation and the operation of the dewatering system

 Factors Influencing the Cost of a Dewatering System
The cost invested for a dewatering system or a dewatering method is dependent on four main
factors. They are:

1. The type and size of the project. This include the pumping requirements for dewatering

2. The power type and availability

3. The labor resources

4. The time period of pumping

The method of slurry cut off walls have helped in controlling the ground water, that have in
turn reduced the amount of pumping. Those projects that require high pumping can make use
of barrier walls like slurry cut off walls.

Factors Affecting the Selection of Dewatering System

If a project involves the construction of foundation in the ground level that is below water table
of that site, it is necessary to undergo dewatering through methods like well point system or
deep well system. This problem cannot be solved by methods like trenching or sump pumping.
 The equipment operations, or the sliding or the sloughing of the side slopes can result in
damage to the foundation. These effects on foundation can be reduced by dewatering systems.

The deep well and well point system does not require any detailed analysis or design before
implementing in a site that does not bring huge pressure fluctuation underground. Here
conventional dewatering system can be used.

But wherever there is unusual pressure relief, it is advised to have a detailed design prepared
by the engineer to perform the dewatering. These details must be specified in detail by the
engineer in the contract documents also. The use of unusual dewatering equipment must be
specified by the engineer prior to the construction activities.

Major factors that affect the choice of dewatering system are explained in detail:
o The Type of Excavation

o The Geological and the soil conditions

o Reliability Requirements

o The Depth to which the ground water is lowered

o Rate of Pumping

o The Intermittent Pumping

o Adjacent structures affected by ground water lowering

o Dewatering compared with other procedures

1. Type of Excavation
A conventional well point system is found economical and safe when dewatering has to be
conducted in a ground area where the water table level is at a lower depth. A lowering of the
water table level to a depth of 20 or 30 feet require deep well system or jet-educators to
conduct the dewatering.

For excavations that are surrounded by cofferdams, either well point system or a deep well
system or both in combination can be employed for dewatering.
 A deep well system or a jet-eductor well point system is a best choice for dewatering that
requires penetration into a field pervious soil or rock. These are mostly implemented for the
construction of deep shafts or tunnels or caissons. The choice between the two is based on the
soil formation in the area and the rate of pumping that is desired.

Other related factors include:

o The Interference of the dewatering system with the ongoing construction operations

o The space available to include the dewatering system

o The duration of dewatering

o Installation and the operation cost

2. Geological Conditions
The type of dewatering system and drainage system for an area is best dictated based on the
soil and the geological conditions of the area. A conventional well system or well point system
can be used if the soil below the water table of the area is deep, free draining sand and more or
less homogeneous in nature.

If the soil is highly stratified and there exist an impervious layer of rock, shale or clay then well
point systems that are installed closely in space can be employed. Wherever the soil is in need
for the relief of artesian pressure, deep wells or jet educators well points in few numbers can
be installed.

3. Depth of drawdown
The magnitude of depth to which the drawdown has to be conducted is one of the primary
factor based on which the type of dewatering system is chosen. If the drawdown to be made is
very deep, the deep well dewatering system or the jet eductor well points are used. The
conventional well points system requires many stages of drawdown for a single depth of
excavation.

A wide variety of flows can be met by using the deep well system given that appropriate pumps
depending on the flow must be chosen. This type of flexibility is not available for jet eductor
 well point system. The jet eductor pumps are more employed where the flow is small as in the
case of silty to find sand cases.

4. Reliability Requirements
The design of dewatering pumps chosen, the standby power, equipment and the power supply
is influenced significantly by the reliability of ground water control for a particular project.

For example, if the problem that is faced during dewatering is the relief of the artesian pressure
so that blow up during the bottom excavation is prevented. This situation affects the choice of
pressure relief system that is selected and the need for a standby equipment with the provision
of automatic power transfer.

5. Required Pumping Rate

The pumping rate that is required to undergo dewatering of an excavation ranges between 5 to
50,000 gallons per minute or higher. The selection of walls, piping system, and the pumps are
affected by the flow to the drainage system.

For deep well dewatering system, the pumps are available from sizes of 3 ro14 inches that have
capacities ranging from 500 to 5000 gallons per minute. These have head value up to 500 feet.

The pumps used in well point system have sizes ranging 6 to 12 in inches with capacities ranging
from 500 to 5000 gallons per minutes. This is dependent on the vacuum and the discharge
heads.

The jet eductor pumps have pumping ability from 3 to 20 gallons per minute that lift upto 100
feet.

The rate of pumping is largely affected by the:

o The distance to the source of seepage

o The thickness of the aquifer

o The perviousness of the aquifer

o The amount of draw down or the pressure relief required

6. Intermittent Pumping Procedure

Having single or double shifts for dewatering per day brings the labor cost down. This principle
cannot be followed wherever the depth of dewatering is very large, the subsoil is pervious and
homogeneous. Under these situations, the pumping system can be operated such that large
drawdowns are taken during single or double shifts.

7. Effect of draw down procedures on Adjacent Structures and Wells

The foundation soils that is below the ground water table is loaded additionally when the
groundwater table of that area is lowered through dewatering system. Application of additional
load results in the consolidation of the soil. This consolidation results in settlement of
structures that are already constructed within the radius of influence.

Before the application of any dewatering system on a site, it is recommended to check for
before mentioned possibility of settlement of active structures around. The water table level of
nearby wells has to observed before and after dewatering. If any claims raised due to the
dewatering procedure is raised, these observations are the basis on which the evaluation is
made.

8. Dewatering Compared with Other Procedures

The control of water during excavation can be best done economically by the process of
dewatering. But for certain applications like for the wet side of a cofferdam or a caisson, a
tremie sealing is done on the bottom side of the excavation. Any other method like slurry cut
off walls or other dewatering procedures are employed.

Other techniques are chosen based on suitability like the use of freezing techniques and rotary
drilling machines that is conducted without the lowering of the water table can be employed.
The use of concrete cut off walls in a slurry supported trench are other examples.

How to Set Up Dewatering Plan for Excavations?

Home/ How To Guide / Work Procedures / Excavation / How to Set Up Dewatering Plan for
Excavations?
Procedures used for dewatering plans for an excavation includes selection of dewatering
method, determination of hydraulic parameter, determination of the well capacity and
Estimation the number of wells.

Fig.1: Dewatering Excavations

Set Up Dewatering Plan for Excavations

1. Selection of Dewatering Method for Excavation

The selection of dewatering method is the first step to establish dewatering plan. Table 1 can
be used to select suitable dewatering method based on the type of soil and excavation depth.

Different types of excavation dewatering system are shown from Figure 2 through Figure 6.

Table-1: Selection of dewatering method based on the type of soil and excavation depth
Suitable depth of
Dewatering methods Suitable type of soil
excavation, m

Gravel (including fine, medium, and coarse),

Open sump Less than 4
and coarse sand
Well point Coarse; medium; and fine sand, and fine gravel 4-8

Fine and medium sand, coarse and medium

Vacuum well point 4-8
silt

Electro-osmosis Fine sand, coarse; medium; and fine silt 4-8

Coarse; medium; and gravel, coarse and

Deep well 20-24
medium sand

Deep well+ auxiliary Fine grave, coarse; medium; and fine sand,
Greater than 28
vacuum pumps coarse and medium silt

Fig.2: Open Sump Dewatering System

Fig.3: Well Point Dewatering System

Fig.4: Electro-Osmosis Dewatering System

Fig.5: Deep Well Excavation System

Fig.6: Deep Well Excavation System

2. Determination of Hydraulic Parameter

There are number of hydraulic parameters that need to be evaluated based on the formula
used. For example, it is required to evaluate coefficient of permeability solely if equilibrium
formula such as Thiem’s equilibrium equation is used.

Coefficient of permeability can be computed using pumping tests, falling head test, constant
head test, or empirical formula. The most acceptable technique for coefficient of permeability
is empirical formula and pumping tests.

Filling head and constant head tests are not desirable because the disturbance of the samples
would prevent fully represent the in-situ soil.

If un-equilibrium equation is used for instance Theeis’s and Jacob equation, then coefficient of
transmissivity and coefficient of storage need to be computed.

The coefficient of transmissivity is equal to the coefficient of permeability times the thickness of
aquifer. The coefficient of storage ranges from 0.0005 to 0.001.
3. Determination of Well Capacity
It is considerably significant to evaluate the capacity of the well since it is the base for the
design and cost of dewatering process execution.

Empirical formula has been developed to estimate the capacity of the well. The equation can be
expressed as follow:

Where:
Qw: Well discharge capacity, m3/s
hw: Groundwater level at which groundwater flows into the well as it is explained in Figure 1, m
rw: Radius of the well, m
k: Coefficient of permeability
It should be known that, the evaluation of hw is very difficult, that is why it is acceptable to
assume that hw is equal to the groundwater level in the deep well at the preliminary estimation.
Because the computations of well capacity have substantial significant, that is why the
provision of a safety factor is highly recommended. It is possible to calculate well capacity using
step drawdown pumping test which more reliable than the value obtained from empirical
formula.
 Fig.7: Capacity of Well

4. Estimation of Number of Wells

Generally, groundwater level shall be lowered around 0.5 to 1m below the bottom of
excavation so as to keep the bottom of excavation dry. This cannot be achieved unless required
numbers of wells are placed.

Steps required to be taken to estimate number of wells include:

o The calculation of total quantity of water required to be pumped using either equilibrium or non-
equilibrium empirical equation as discussed above (determination of hydraulic parameters).

o Compute the capacity of each wells using equation 1 explained in the above section.

o Compute the number of wells by dividing total amount of water needed to be pumped by the
capacity of single well.
Fig.8: Dewatering Wells Installed in an Excavation