Construction

Dewatering

At Griffin, our expertise is

in groundwater control
for challenging
construction projects and
subsurface
conditions. Griffin
specializes in dewatering
and groundwater control,
utilizing such techniques
as eductors, deep wells,
wellpoints, slurry walls,
and relief wells.

What Is
Dewatering?

Dewatering means
the separation of
water from the
soil, or perhaps
taking the water
out of the
particular
construction
problem
completely.
This leads to
concepts like predrainage of soil,
control of ground
water, and even

What Does Dewatering

Do?

Controls ground water,

and even the
improvement of physical
properties of soil.
Intercepts Seepage
Achieves waterproofing
objectives

Origins Of
Dewatering

Human efforts to
control water
predate recorded
history.
The first practical
wellpoint
dewatering system
in the U.S. was
used in
Hackensack, NJ in
1925.

Consequences
Of Improper
Dewatering
Excavation Support Systems
Rendered Unstable
Future Settling
Lost Time
Decreased Worksite Safety
Increased Cost

Dewatering
Methods

Wellpoint System
A wellpoint system consists of
a number of wellpoints spaced
along a trench or around an
excavation site, all connected
to a common header, which is
attached to one or more
wellpoint pumps.
Wellpoint systems are most
suitable in shallow aquifers
where the water level needs to
be lowered no more than 15 or
20 feet. Due to the vacuum
limitation of the pump,
excavations that are deeper
will require multiple stages of

Deep Well System

Deep well systems consist
of one or more individual
wells, each of which has its
own submersible pump at
the bottom of the well.
Deep well systems are
suitable for water-table or
confined aquifers and will
lower the water table 100
feet or more in a single lift
without staging.

Eductor System
The eductor system is
generally used in areas
where the soils have a
low permeability. It is
especially well suited for
deep excavations with
stratified soils. The
eductors are installed at
relatively close spacing
similar to the array in
wellpoint systems, but
require only a single
stage to effect draw
downs of up to 100 +
feet.

Open Pumping
The removal of water
from a site or an area
commonly called;
sumping, unwatering,
or open pumping.
Axial flow pumps on
a temporary pump
station was capable
of pumping 200,000
gallons per minute
(gpm) with a standby
capacity of 30,000
gpm.

Temporary & Permanent

Dewatering Systems
Temporary

Intercept Seepage
Improve the excavation and the
backfill characteristics of the
excavation to allow
construction to proceed in a safe

Permanent

Achieve waterproofing
objectives.
Reduce or eliminate lateral
and/or uplift pressures.

Details Of A Dewatering
System

Considerations When
Selecting A Dewatering
System

Size & Depth Of The

Excavation

Location And Environment

Proximity Of Existing Structures

Existence Of Any Contamination

Soil Characteristics And

Subsurface Conditions

Aquifer Characteristics
Aquifer composition
and distribution
Hydraulic
conductivity,
transmissivity,
storage coefficient
Flow rate calculation
for proposed
construction area to
be dewatered

Construction
Schedule
Time always equals money in
construction
How does the Dewatering
System impact the budget and
schedule?
The Dewatering system should
be a long term asset for
ongoing operations

Dewatering Case Studies

Saluda Dam Remediation

Case Study

Need for Renovation

The dams construction
method comprises its
problem- the sluiced fill
materials. This
material has a loose (or
very loose) relative
density. Consequently,
the dam is susceptible
to
liquefaction during an
earthquake.
Griffin installed Deepwells, Eductors, & Wellpoints on
downstream toe of dam for excavation of up to 80ft. in depth.

Saluda Dam Remediation

Case Study

The project was a

significant undertaking. In
addition to keeping the
48,000 acre reservoir
nearly full, which is rimmed
with businesses and
houses, and keeping the
hydroelectric plant and
coal fired steam plant
operational, the project
also required that we
ensure the safety of the
120,000 residents living in
the flood plain downstream
in Columbia, SC. All the
above was required, while
also addressing the
environmental concerns

Owner: SCE&G Columbia, SC

General Contractor: Paul C. Rizzo
Associates, Monroeville, PA
Specialty Sub Contractor: Griffin
Dewatering

Batchtown Wildlife Refuge

Case Study

Griffin deep wells installed on a oval earthen

berm directly in the Mississippi River
A deep well
dewatering system
for the Batchtown
Wildlife Refuge
Rehabilitation project
near St. Louis,
Missouri. The wells
were installed on a
oval earthen berm
directly in the
Mississippi River.
Individual wells were
pumping roughly
Building Team/Key Players: Army Corp of Engineers,
US gallons
Fish and per
Wildlife
1750
Service,
minute each.

New Madrid Pump

Case Study
Station

Deep well dewatering system in operation at

an excavation near the Mississippi River
A deep well installed at
an excavation for a
pumping station being
built in New Madrid
Missouri in close
proximity to the
Mississippi river for the
Army Corps of
Installation of high
Engineers.

volume deepwells
for excavation 51ft.
below high
Mississippi River
elevation.
Building Team/Key Players: Army Corp of Engineers: Memphis District, Hill
Brothers Construction & Engineering Co., Griffin Dewatering Southwest

Riverpoint West Street Improvement

project
Case Study

Sewerline installation located in Des Moines,

IA
This photo depicts an
excavation in Des Moines,
Iowa of a 30 foot deep
sewerline installation
located 3 feet above the
bedrock. Deep
dewatering wells were
used to lower the
groundwater 8 feet and a
600 foot long, 200 point
wellpoint system was
installed 17 feet below
existing grade to handle
the rest
of the Ames, IA,
Building Team/Key Players: J&K Contracting General
Contractor
Griffin Dewatering North Central, LLC Sub Contractor
Omaha, NE
groundwater.

Pearland Town Center - Detention

Case Study
Pond

A Wellpoint System was

used for the construction
of a detention pond at the
Pearland Town Center in
Pearland, Texas
Building Team/Key Players: EMJ Construction General Contractor
Chattanooga, TN,
Griffin Dewatering Southwest, LLC Sub Contractor Houston, TX

Crystal River Power Plant

Case Study
Expansion
Installation of
high volume
sumping
equipment for
excavation into
Florida limestone
formations.

General Contractor:
Zachary Construction
Specialty SubContractor:
Griffin Dewatering

Lake Fork Pumping

Case Study
Station
Installation of deepwells
and wellpoints for +65ft
excavation.

General Contractor:
Bar Constructors
Specialty SubContractor:

The Lake Fork Pump

Station project was
constructed by Bar
Constructors. Lake Fork
is the first new water
source connected to the
DWU raw water system
in 40 years. The Lake
Fork Pump Station is a
240 MGD raw water
pump station located
approximately 95 miles
east of Dallas on Lake
Fork.

El Cajon Public Safety

Case Study
Center

General Contractor:
Ledcor Construction Inc.
Specialty Sub-Contractor:
Griffin Dewatering Farwest

This construction project

is located in the County
of San Diego for the city
of El Cajon. The
dewatering system on
this excavation consists
of a dewatering system
installed around the
perimeter of the
excavation. It consists of
a series of electric
submersible pumps
installed inside of deep
Location: wells by Griffin
Farwest.
El Cajon, CADewatering
(San Diego County)

Galena River
Bypass Case Study
The pump in the foreground is
a 12 Non-Clog pump for
bypass pumping of the Galena
River around an excavation for
a new railroad bridge. The
pump in the middle was a high
pressure 6 pump used to
install the wick points. The
pump in the foreground is an
8 Non-Clog Variable Use
Pump for the wick point
dewatering system.
General Contractor:
Rieth-Riley Construction
Specialty Sub-Contractor:
Griffin Dewatering Midwest

Location:
LaPorte County, Indiana

Lake Isabella
Bypass Case Study

Owner: Isabella Partners

General Contractor: Griffin Dewatering
Farwest
Location: High in the desert mountains
above Bakersfield, California and San
Joaquin Valley.

Griffin axial flow pumps on

Lake Isabella. Fed by the Kern
River, the lake is a primary
source of water for farmers in
the southern part of the largest
agricultural area in California.
Griffin Dewatering Corporation
was called in to design,
construct, and operate a
temporary pump station that
would run for five months. The
station was capable of
pumping 200,000 gallons per
minute (gpm) with a standby
capacity of 30,000 gpm. The
quantity the station actually
pumped was dependent upon
the demand downstream.

Prado Dam Embankment and Outlet

Case Study
Works

Griffin Bypass
equipment
installation. Prado
Dam sewer bypass
pumping at 22 million
gallons per day
located
in Santa
Ana
Temporary
bypass
River
near
Corona,
systems
are
used to
California.
transfer water supplies
and sewage flow, so
that vital services are
uninterrupted during
construction.
Owner: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District
General Contractor: Doty Brothers Equipment Company
Sub Contractor: Griffin Dewatering Farwest
Location: Dam on the Santa Ana River in Riverside County, California

College Avenue Pump Station

Case Study

At the heart of the bypass at

the Olsson Construction Inc.
Westside Pump Station job are
these two 16 vacuum assisted
non clog pumps, fitted with
100hp electric motors. Two
10 diesel powered, vacuum
assisted non clog pumps are
also installed, as back up for
the system. Fitting this many
large pumps into the very small
space allotted was difficult;
however, Griffins field crew did
an excellent job.

Owner: Orange County Sanitation District

General Contractor: Olsson Construction Inc.
Sub Contractor: Griffin Dewatering Farwest
Location: Costa Mesa, California

Siphon Sewer - Iowa

Case Study
City
The project is the replacment of
a siphon sewer under the Iowa
River. Griffin is bypassing the
sewage from the old structures
while the new sewer
connections are made. Total
volume is about 6,300 gallons
per minute. Total duration of the
job is 2 weeks from startup to
shut down of the new 18 inch
non-clog pumps. Griffin is
bypassing sewage from 3
different locations on site and 2
operate at any one time.

Owner: City of Iowa City, The Public Works

Department
General Contractor: Judds Brothers Construction
Sub Contractor: Griffin Dewatering North Central
Location: Iowa City, Iowa

Rice University Collaborative Research

Case Study
Center
The project (CRC Rice
University) consists of a ten
story building next to the Rice
University Campus inside of
Houston Medical Center.
Griffin installed a 1400 linear
foot eductor system to lower
the groundwater below the
deepest cut (40 feet deep
from the street level). These
eductors are 65 to 80 feet
deep and drilled outside the
excavation area along the
property line. The eductor
system with two pump
stations has lowered
Owner: Rice University
groundwater more than 5 feet
General Contractor: Linbeck Construction below the deepest
Sub Contractor: Griffin Dewatering Southwest
excavation.

Location: Houston, Texas

Eastside Access Queens Bored

Case Study
Tunnels

Installing 10 Deep Wells Up To 60 Feet

Deep
Owner: NYC Metro Transportation Autho
GC: Granite/Traylor/Frontier-Kemper
Sub: Griffin Dewatering New England
Location: Queens, NY

Love Field Airport

Modernization

Case Study

Installed 7 Deep
Wells and 70
Wickpoints on
Concourse Area and
20 Deep Wells in the
Ticketing Area

Owner: Southwest Airlines, Dallas

GC: Hensel Phelps Construction Co.
Sub: Griffin Dewatering Southwest
Location: Dallas, TX