Whether you’re building a home or a commercial property, dewatering is essential to prevent water damage and mold. This process involves pumping water out of the building through a sump or an electro-osmosis system. Choosing a suitable location for the discharge is important, but you should also avoid natural slopes in the area.
Foundation dewatering
When constructing a structure, it is essential to consider Submersible Pump. This process is necessary to remove groundwater from the excavation area before the concrete is placed. It also prevents soil erosion and provides dry working conditions.
The best method for dewatering depends on the soil’s nature, the excavation’s depth, and the water table. Different ways include using sheet piles, slurry walls, and grout curtains.
The most effective method is a dewatering pump. These pumps are capable of removing most of the water from a site. They are the most convenient and also the fastest. However, they may only be suitable for areas with a low water table.
Construction tunnels are another option for temporarily reducing the level of water. In addition to using these techniques, water should be directed to a wooded buffer before being discharged.
Aside from these techniques, you can use various other dewatering methods. These methods include water pumping, siphoning, and electro-osmosis.
Sump pumping
Using sump pumping is a cheap, effective method of controlling groundwater. But it has a few limitations. It is best used in shallow excavations. It’s also important to remember that a sump pump needs electricity. If the power goes out, the sump may be empty, which can cause flooding in your basement.
Choosing a suitable sump pump is more complex than it seems. It is best to consult a professional. They can determine whether you need a new sump or whether your current system is operating at total capacity.
For example, if you have a one-inch sump, you need to know how many gallons of water will fit inside. This is called hydraulic head pressure. It is the maximum height at which a water pump can raise water. Then, you need to multiply this number by 1.5 to account for severe storms.
A good sump pump has a check valve. This is usually placed near the pump to prevent debris from entering the sump. If trash gets into the pump, the system will shut down.
Electro-osmosis
Despite its potential for dewatering SSS, Electro-osmosis has been shown to have limited efficiency. This is because electro-osmosis uses an electric field to force contaminants onto the negative electrode. The effectiveness of electro-osmosis depends on the valence and relative abundance of different ions.
A variety of techniques for electro-osmosis treatment have been proposed. These methods include polarity reversal, injection of chemical solutions, and geo-synthetic electrodes. These methods are effective and can improve the effectiveness of electro-osmosis. However, more than these modifications may be required for general geotechnical applications. Nonetheless, they can be applied in the field to enhance the efficiency of the process.
Another method for modifying the electro-osmosis process is to use a short electric circuit. This can reduce the electrodes’ electrical contact resistance and improve the process’s effectiveness.
Injection of buffer solutions at the electrodes can also enhance the effectiveness of electro-osmosis. The effects of this technique were demonstrated in a study on the tailings from iron ore mining.
Avoid natural slopes while selecting a discharge area.
Keeping a safe and healthy work environment is crucial when removing water from construction sites. Dewatering can be done using various methods such as pumps, evaporation, and gravity drain. However, selecting a suitable discharge area is essential to avoid the risk of soil erosion during this process. This is a crucial part of the process, as it will ensure that the water is removed from the site without damaging the soil. If you are looking for a more environmentally friendly approach, consider using a wooded buffer. This will limit erosion and allow the water to absorb into the ground, reducing the speed at which it travels to streams and watersheds.
