When constructing dams, buildings and powerhouses, dewatering is an extremely vital process. It is important to have sound working conditions to avoid accidents. The structures require a solid base that is dry for their foundations. In addition, you need to ensure the structures get proper girth water table stability.

Construction dewatering is usually used to imply the removal of surface or groundwater from the site of construction. It is typically done through evaporation or pumping and it generally comes before excavation to lower the water table, which could be resulting in excavation problems. However, dewatering is also used to explain the process of eliminating soil water through wet classification.

Importance of Dewatering

Construction dewatering is quite common in construction sites due to amassed trench water, or in areas with high water table or inadequate slope areas. It is imperative to remove this water from construction sites to ensure the work runs as expected or to make the sites safe for the workers. In most cases, therefore, builders use water-pumps to dewater construction sites.

When pumping water from construction sites, it is important that builders observe where the water gets directed to. When discharge is not properly observed, it often results in erosion and a host of other environmental issues. It is for this reason that dewatering consulting services are recommended to ensure all safety precautions are taken into consideration. A competent dewatering consultant will see to it that all best management practices are put into perspective. This is particularly when this water is being pumped into other water bodies such as wetlands, lakes or directly to sewer inlets.

Precautions

Contractors must ensure that soil is not eroded at construction sites. This means that dewatering activities must be conducted with utmost caution. In addition, selecting the right discharge location is essential to conducting proper dewatering at construction sites. This is irrespective of the site’s locations to catch basins or water bodies. A number of dewatering products like dewatering bags can assist in getting rid of sediments from pumped water.

When selecting ideal discharge areas, be sure to keep the following in mind:
• Do not directly pump water into slopes
• If available, all dewatering processes ought to be bound to a wooded buffer.
• When signs of instability or erosion occur, discontinue dewatering activities immediately
• Dewatering channels should be steady and preferably protected by grass or vegetation to avoid erosion
• Do not directly discharge water contaminated with chemicals, grease or oil