You've heard of watering your lawn and plants, but dewatering?

What's that all about?

Sometimes water is not only unnecessary, but it's also damaging. That's why efforts are often made to get rid of water where it's not needed and where it can cause damage.

Imagine soil so wet that the vegetation starts to drown and soil starts to erode. Sometimes water can force its way into basements of homes.

Or imagine construction sites that are flooded with water to the point that work ceases for a while. In cases like these, removing the water becomes a necessity.

So, what is dewatering, and why even bother with it? Read on to find out more about this important process.

What is Dewatering?

Construction dewatering refers to the elimination of surface or groundwater from a site. This most often includes construction zones.

The process is normally conducted using specialized pumps to get rid of the water. In other situations, evaporation of the water is encouraged.

This is done before any excavation processes take place. It's also done to lower the water table so that it doesn't interfere with excavation.

If water stays on site, this can compromise the work being done. It also fosters a hazardous workplace.

Builders usually make use of water pumps to dewater construction zones. Dewatering is also meant to remove water from the soil if it becomes too saturated.

Certain best practice procedures are important to in order to ensure that no erosion issues occur.

Methods of Dewatering

There are few different ways that water can be discharged from a site. That said, the simplest method involves the use of drainage channels that direct water away from the area in question.

Other methods include:

• The use of water pumps (as already mentioned)
• Siphoning
• Manually scooping water away from the area

Protecting Against Erosion

In order to make sure that erosion of the soil around the construction site doesn't happen, certain precautions need to be taken. It is also important to pick an ideal spot for the water discharge. This is true matter how far away the catch basin might be.

Take the following precautions:

• Never pump water directly into sloped areas
• Never pump water into areas that are already showing signs of erosion
• Keep an eye on spots where water is being discharged
• Never dewater during periods of heavy rainfall
• Dewatering should be directed to wooded buffers where available
• Water that has been contaminated should never be discharged. You might need water separators may in these cases
• Ideally, protect any discharge channels with some sort of vegetation
• Always be familiar with the conditions of the water table in the area to ensure a sound strategy
• Only use sump pumps when dealing with a small amount of water
• Check with the local, state, and federal level government offices to see if you need a permit

Want to Know More About Dewatering?

No matter what your need for dewatering is, we've got the expertise and the technology needed to get the job done right. Go online and visit our blog today to find out more about how we can help!