GroundWater Control & Dewatering - Geoquip Water Solutions (GWS) (2024)

FAQs

How do you solve groundwater problems? ›

Some consequences of aquifer depletion include: Lower lake levels or—in extreme cases—intermittent or totally dry perennial streams. These effects can harm aquatic and riparian plants and animals that depend on regular surface flows. Land subsidence and sinkhole formation in areas of heavy withdrawal.

We have singled out four commonly used methods: sump pumping, wellpoints, deep wells, and eductor wells. These techniques can be employed singularly or in combination depending on the nature of the soil and groundwater conditions.

Dewatering is a term to describe the removal of groundwater or surface water from for example a construction site. In construction the water is pumped from wells or sumps to temporarily lower the groundwater levels, to allow excavation in dry and stable conditions below natural groundwater level.

General recommendations

The National Academy of Medicine suggests an adequate intake of daily fluids of about 13 cups and 9 cups for healthy men and women, respectively, with 1 cup equaling 8 ounces.

Some of the negative effects of ground-water depletion include increased pumping costs, deterioration of water quality, reduction of water in streams and lakes, or land subsidence.

Over-exploitation of groundwater resources can generate different types of negative externalities: (i) stock externality, related to reduced availability of the resource for other current or future uses, (ii) cost externality, due to the increase in extraction costs, (iii) externality related to quality degradation of ...

The three-point problem utilizes simple geometry principles to determine both the direction of flow and gradient. In geometry, three points define a plane; knowing the groundwater elevations defines the plane in hydrogeologic space, allowing the inclination/gradient to be determined.

Pump and treat is the most common cleanup method for groundwater.

Sump pumping is the most common method for dewatering, since it basically works by gravity. This method is also the most economical. Groundwater is allowed to seep into the excavation area, where it is collected in sumps to be pumped out.

What are the two main objectives of dewatering? ›

Objectives of Dewatering

The first is to prevent excavations below groundwater level from being inundated by groundwater. The second (and often more important) objective is to avoid groundwater-induced instability of the excavation by controlling pore water pressures and hence effective stresses around the excavation.

Precautions to Take in Dewatering

Do not pump the water directly into slopes. Used a wooded buffer if you can. Choose an appropriate area to discharge the water, ideally a forest buffer zone. Ensure that the channels used for dewatering are stable and covered by vegetation or grass if possible.

The method required to dewater is determined by the geological conditions and characteristics of the soil, and the level, size and depth of excavation.

Topography and geology are the dominant factors controlling groundwater flow. Storativity describes the property of an aquifer to store water. Hydraulic conductivity is measured by performing a pumping test, i.e. by pumping one well and observing the changes in hydraulic head in neighboring wells.

There are three main factors on which the flow of groundwater depends: Porosity, Permeability, and Gravity.

Concrete is already a porous material. This means that water could find its way through your concrete by itself. But, if you have cracks or cove joints that aren't sealed properly, water will use those openings to enter your foundation.

In short, yes, water can come up through a basem*nt floor. Even if there are no visible cracks, water can find its way up through a concrete floor.

If you notice water in the basem*nt after heavy rain, you're not alone. Water coming up through the basem*nt floor or leaking from a crack in a basem*nt wall are typical symptoms of basem*nt leaks or seepage.

Mineral, structured, and pure spring water are some of the healthiest water you can drink because they're clean and contain all the essential minerals your body needs. Filtered water removes contaminants but might also remove essential minerals.

Does coffee count as water intake? ›

Here is one more reason to enjoy that morning cup of joe: “Coffee counts toward your daily water intake,” says Lauren DeWolf, MS, RD, a registered dietitian with Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Centers. The water in coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages helps us meet our daily fluid needs.

No matter your typical energy level, better hydration could be the answer. In fact, fatigue and low energy are two of the most immediate symptoms of insufficient water intake. Drinking a gallon of water each day may help you sustain your energy and even sleep better at night.

Industrial discharges, urban activities, agriculture, groundwater pumpage, and disposal of waste all can affect groundwater quality. Contaminants can be human-induced, as from leaking fuel tanks or toxic chemical spills.

Most of the time, U.S. groundwater is safe to use. However, groundwater sources can become contaminated with germs, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and chemicals, such as those used in fertilizers and pesticides. Contaminated groundwater can make people sick.

Droughts, seasonal variations in rainfall, and pumping affect the height of the under groundwater levels. If a well is pumped at a faster rate than the aquifer around it is recharged by precipitation or other underground flow, then water levels in the well can be lowered.

Land subsidence occurs when large amounts of groundwater have been withdrawn from certain types of rocks, such as fine-grained sediments. The rock compacts because the water is partly responsible for holding the ground up.

Periods of extended over pumping increase the rate at which water travels through the ground immediately around the well drawing in sediment that adds cloudiness to the water and may eventually clog the cracks that are the arteries in your water delivery system thus severing the well's connection to the aquifer.

Groundwater is found in two zones. The unsaturated zone, immediately below the land surface, contains water and air in the open spaces, or pores. The saturated zone, a zone in which all the pores and rock fractures are filled with water, underlies the unsaturated zone.

Aquifers, hand-dug wells, and artesian wells are different types of sources of groundwater.

What is the most important method for groundwater investigation? ›

Test drilling is the most reliable method to obtain information about subsurface formations at different depths, which is very useful in verifying the results of other investigation methods as well as to obtain assurance of underground conditions before well drilling.

Groundwater helps to keep our rivers flowing. Groundwater is used for drinking water by close to 50% of the people in the United States, but its largest use is for crop irrigation and agricultural production.

Water treatment methods such as reverse osmosis, ion exchange or oxidizing filters can be used to reduce other types of water hardness. With the ion exchange process, water is pumped through a tank containing a resin that causes calcium and magnesium ions to be exchanged for sodium or potassium ions.

Depending on the soil characteristics, a wellpoint can dewater an average of a 15-20-foot radius. The depth of the wellpoint installation is based on the depth of the excavation. The rule of thumb is to install the wellpoints 5-to-6-feet below the desired excavation depth.

The permeability of the soil, or rate of the flow of water through the soil, is especially important. Some dewatering methods, like sump pumping and eductor wells, only work in low-permeability soil, while deep well dewatering works best in high-permeability soil.

The simplest form of dewatering, sump pumping, involves allowing groundwater to seep into the excavation site, and then directing that groundwater to low points, called sumps. As water collects in these sumps, it is removed using a simple pump, which is usually triggered by a float valve.

While dewatering can be a useful tool, there are also risks involved. If not done properly, dewatering can lead to instability of the ground and soil. This, in turn, can lead to sinkholes and other problems. There is also the potential for groundwater contamination if the water removed is not properly treated.

A Wellpoint Dewatering system is a versatile, cost-effective pre-drainage solution that features individual wellpoints which are closely spaced around the excavation. This technique utilizes vacuum to assist in lowering groundwater levels to create a stable, dry working environment.

What is the purpose of dewatering in construction? The dewatering process ensures the soil is dry prior to excavation. Pumping removes excess water on the ground's surface and subsurface, which will help firm up the soil. If done properly, dewatering prevents soil erosion and upheaval failure.

When should you stop dewatering? ›

If your jobsite shows signs of erosion, stop dewatering. Avoid discharging contaminated water. Stabilize any channels used for dewatering. Avoid dewatering during heavy rains.

Dewatering equipment is designed to separate water from solids using force, including vacuum and centrifugal. motion. Used widely in waste management, dewatering equipment can save money by reducing solids handling or disposal expenses that are charged on a unit weight basis.

Dewatering /diːˈwɔːtərɪŋ/ is the removal of water from a location. This may be done by wet classification, centrifugation, filtration, or similar solid-liquid separation processes, such as removal of residual liquid from a filter cake by a filter press as part of various industrial processes.

Install Area Drains.

The purpose of an area drain is to remove excess surface water that can accumulate after a heavy rain. Area drains can be connected to guttered downspouts and sloped surface areas to help move water away from a foundation. These drains are connected to catch basins.

Pump and treat is a common method for cleaning up groundwater contaminated with dissolved chemicals, including industrial solvents, metals, and fuel oil. Groundwater is extracted and conveyed to an above-ground treatment system that removes the contaminants.

What are the most common groundwater treatment methods? Groundwater treatment typically includes aeration for the addition of oxygen and the stripping of volatile compounds, sand filtration for the removal of particles and support for biological processes, and UV disinfection as a hygienic barrier.

Injection wells

Municipal wastewater and industrial wastewater are suitable sources for replenishing groundwater by pumping through RO process units.

Thoroughly cleaning an aquifer would require cleansing each pore within the soil or rock unit. For this reason, cleaning polluted groundwater is very costly, takes years, and is sometimes not technically feasible. If the toxic materials can be removed from the aquifer, disposing of them is another challenge.

After enough of the chemicals are removed, the water is pumped back into the aquifer. Bioremediation can take anywhere from a few months to a few years to remove contaminants, but it is an effective and natural treatment process that does not require the use of chemicals or disinfectants.

How is groundwater naturally cleaned? ›

The water stored in aquifers originates as rain and snowmelt that flows downward from the surface through the different layers of soil. This movement acts as a natural filtration system and removes many of the harmful particles accumulated from the surface.

Groundwater may need to be disinfected before consumption to remove harmful microorganisms and should be disinfected to prevent any downstream contamination.

Groundwater is used for drinking water by close to 50% of the people in the United States, but its largest use is for crop irrigation and agricultural production.

Use the minimum amount of detergent and/or bleach when you are washing clothes or dishes. Use only phosphate free soaps and detergents. Minimize the use of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers. DO NOT dispose of these chemicals, motor oil, or other automotive fluids into the sanitary sewer or storm sewer systems.

Overview. Keeping water from becoming polluted is easier, less expensive, and safer than cleaning it once it is polluted. Treating water for other purposes may not have to be as clean as drinking water. The Clean Water Act regulates pollutants and provides money for wastewater treatment plants to be built.

For example, groundwater can be artificially recharged by redirecting water across the land surface through canals, infiltration basins, or ponds; adding irrigation furrows or sprinkler systems; or simply injecting water directly into the subsurface through injection wells.

Abstract. Oxidation processes in an aquifer caused by injection of oxygen containing water can improve the groundwater quality and protect the groundwater against pollutions. The so called subterranean groundwater treatment is applied in several european countries for some years.

Groundwater sources are beneath the land surface and include springs and wells. As can be seen from the hydrologic cycle, when rain falls to the ground, some water flows along the land to streams or lakes, some water evaporates into the atmosphere, some is taken up by plants, and some seeps into the ground.