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DEWATERING

DEWATERING : CONTROL OF GROUNDWATER

CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS, POWERHOUSES, DAMS, LOCKS AND


MANY OTHER STRUCTURES REQUIRES EXCAVATION BELOW THE
WATER TABLE INTO WATER-BEARING SOILS. SUCH EXCAVATIONS
REQUIRE LOWERING THE WATER TABLE BELOW THE SLOPES AND
BOTTOM OF THE EXCAVATION TO PREVENT RAVELING OR
SLOUGHING OF THE SLOPE AND TO ENSURE DRY, FIRM WORKING
CONDITIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS.

GROUNDWATER CAN BE CONTROLLED BY MEANS OF ONE OR MORE


TYPES OF DEWATERING SYSTEMS APPROPRIATE TO THE SIZE AND
DEPTH OF THE EXCAVATION, GEOLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND
DEWATERING AT AN EXCAVATION SITE
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SOIL.
CONSTRUCTION SITES ARE DEWATERED FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:
1. TO PROVIDE SUITABLE WORKING SURFACE OF THE BOTTOM OF THE EXCAVATION.
2. TO STABILIZE THE BANKS OF THE EXCAVATION THUS AVOIDING THE HAZARDS OF SLIDES AND
SLOUGHING.
3. TO PREVENT DISTURBANCE OF THE SOIL AT THE BOTTOM OF EXCAVATION CAUSED BY BOILS OR
PIPING. SUCH DISTURBANCES MAY REDUCE THE BEARING POWER OF THE SOIL.
4. LOWERING THE WATER TABLE CAN ALSO BE UTILIZED TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVE WEIGHT OF THE
SOIL AND CONSOLIDATE THE SOIL LAYERS. REDUCING LATERAL LOADS ON SHEETING AND BRACING IS
ANOTHER WAY OF USE.
SUMP PUMPING
GROUNDWATER CONTROL
A NUMBER OF METHODS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CONTROLLING THE
INFLOW OF WATER INTO AN EXCAVATION; THE CHOICE OF
METHOD WILL DEPEND ON THE NATURE AND PERMEABILITY OF
THE GROUND, THE EXTENT OF THE AREA TO BE DEWATERED,
THE DEPTH OF THE WATER TABLE BELOW GROUND LEVEL AND
THE AMOUNT BY WHICH IT HAS TO BE LOWERED, THE PROPOSED
METHODS OF EXCAVATION AND GROUND SUPPORT, THE
PROXIMITY OF EXISTING STRUCTURES, THE PROXIMITY OF WATER
COURSES ETC.
METHODS OF GROUNDWATER CONTROL FALL INTO THE FOLLOWING BASIC GROUPS:
1. SURFACE WATER CONTROL LIKE DITCHES, TRAINING WALLS,
EMBANKMENTS. SIMPLE METHODS OF DIVERTING SURFACE
WATER, OPEN EXCAVATIONS. SIMPLE PUMPING EQUIPMENT.
2. GRAVITY DRAINAGE. RELATIVELY IMPERMEABLE SOILS. OPEN
EXCAVATIONS ESPECIALLY ON SLOPING SITES. SIMPLE
PUMPING EQUIPMENT.
3. SUMP PUMPING
4. DEEP (BORED) WELLS WITH PUMPS.
5. WELLPOINT SYSTEMS WITH SUCTION PUMPS.
6. SHALLOW (BORED) WELLS WITH PUMPS.
7. EDUCTOR SYSTEM
8. HORIZONTAL DRAINS
9. HORIZONTAL DRILLED WELL
10. RELIEF WELL
11. RECHARGE WELL SIPHON DRAINS
12. SIPHON DRAINS
13. GROUND FREEZING

EDUCTOR SYSTEM SHALLOW (BORED) WELLS WITH PUMPS


WELLPOINT SYSTEMS WITH SUCTION PUMPS.
DEEP (BORED) WELLS WITH PUMPS.
SUMPS AND SUMP PUMPING
A SUMP IS MERELY A HOLE IN THE GROUND FROM WHICH WATER
IS BEING PUMPED FOR THE PURPOSE OF REMOVING WATER FROM
THE ADJOINING AREA.
THEY ARE USED WITH DITCHES LEADING TO THEM IN LARGE
EXCAVATIONS. UP TO MAXIMUM OF 8M BELOW PUMP
INSTALLATION LEVEL; FOR GREATER DEPTHS A SUBMERSIBLE
PUMP IS REQUIRED.
SHALLOW SLOPES MAY BE REQUIRED FOR UNSUPPORTED
EXCAVATIONS IN SILTS AND FINE SANDS. GRAVELS AND COARSE
SANDS ARE MORE SUITABLE. FINES MAY BE EASILY REMOVED
FROM GROUND AND SOILS CONTAINING LARGE PERCENT OF
FINES ARE NOT SUITABLE. IF THERE ARE EXISTING FOUNDATIONS
IN THE VICINITY PUMPING MAY CAUSE SETTLEMENT OF THESE
FOUNDATIONS.
SUMPS OUTSIDE MAIN CONSTRUCTION
AREA
SUBSIDENCE OF ADJACENT GROUND AND SLOUGHING OF THE
LOWER PART OF A SLOPE (SLOPED PITS) MAY OCCUR.
ADVANTAGES OF SUMPS AND SUMP PUMPING THE SUMP SHOULD BE PREFERABLY LINED WITH A FILTER
THE PRIMARY BENEFIT OF A SUMP PUMP INVOLVES MATERIAL WHICH HAS GRAIN SIZE GRADATIONS IN COMPATIBLE
MOVING WATER AWAY FROM A FOUNDATION. WITH THE FILTER RULES.
FINALLY, COLLECTED WATER SOMETIMES ATTRACTS FOR PROLONGED PUMPING THE SUMP SHOULD BE PREPARED BY
UNWELCOME VISITORS TO A HOME. MOLD CAN GROW FIRST DRIVING SHEETING AROUND THE SUMP AREA FOR THE
IN WET ENVIRONMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE. MOSQUITO FULL DEPTH OF THE SUMP AND INSTALLING A CAGE INSIDE THE
POPULATIONS ALSO FLOURISH IN SOME WARMER SUMP MADE OF WIRE MESH WITH INTERNAL STRUTTING OR A
AREAS, IF SUFFICIENT STANDING WATER PROVIDES A PERFORATING PIPE FILLING THE FILTER MATERIAL IN THE SPACE
SURFACE FOR THEM TO LAY EGGS. OUTSIDE THE CAGE AND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAGE AND
WITHDRAWING THE SHEETING.

A SMALL SUMP PUMPING FROM SUMPS PUMPING FROM SUMP IN A BASEMENT


WELLPOINT SYSTEMS
A WELLPOINT IS 5.0-7.5 CM DIAMETER METAL OR PLASTIC PIPE 60 CM 120
CM LONG WHICH IS PERFORATED AND COVERED WITH A SCREEN. THE
LOWER END OF THE PIPE HAS A DRIVING HEAD WITH WATER HOLES FOR
JETTING.
WELLPOINTS ARE CONNECTED TO 5.0-7.5 CM DIAMETER PIPES KNOWN AS
RISER PIPES AND ARE INSERTED INTO THE GROUND BY DRIVING OR
JETTING.
THE UPPER ENDS OF THE RISER PIPES LEAD TO A HEADER PIPE WHICH, IN
TURN, IS CONNECTED TO A PUMP.
THE GROUND WATER IS DRAWN BY THE PUMP INTO THE WELLPOINTS
THROUGH THE HEADER PIPE AND DISCHARGED.

THE WELLPOINTS ARE USUALLY INSTALLED WITH 0.75M 3M SPACING.


THIS TYPE OF DEWATERING SYSTEM IS EFFECTIVE IN SOILS CONSTITUTED
PRIMARILY OF SAND FRACTION OR OTHER SOIL CONTAINING SEAMS OF
SUCH MATERIALS.
IN GRAVELS SPACING REQUIRED MAY BE TOO CLOSE AND IMPRACTICABLE.
IN CLAYS IT IS ALSO NOT USED BECAUSE IT IS TOO SLOW.
IN SILTS AND SILT CLAY MIXTURES THE USE OF WELL POINTS ARE AIDED
BY UPPER (0.60M 0.90M LONG) COMPACTED CLAY SEALS AND SAND-
FILTERED BOREHOLES (20CM 60CM DIAMETER).
UPPER CLAY SEALS HELP TO MAINTAIN HIGHER SUCTION (VACUUM)
PRESSURES AND SAND FILTERS INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF DISCHARGE.
FILTERED BOREHOLES ARE ALSO FUNCTIONAL IN LAYERED SOIL PROFILES.

PUMPING USING A WELLPOINT SYSTEM


SHALLOW WELLS
SHALLOW WELLS COMPRISE SURFACE PUMPS WHICH DRAW
WATER THROUGH SUCTION PIPES INSTALLED IN BORED
WELLS DRILLED BY THE MOST APPROPRIATE WELL
DRILLING AND OR BORED PILING EQUIPMENT.
THE LIMITING DEPTH TO WHICH THIS METHOD IS
EMPLOYED IS ABOUT 8 M.
BECAUSE WELLS ARE PREBORED, THIS METHOD IS USED
WHEN HARD OR VARIABLE SOIL CONDITIONS PRECLUDE
THE USE OF A WELLPOINT SYSTEM.

ADVANTAGES OF SHALLOW WELLS


THESE WELLS ARE USED IN VERY PERMEABLE SOILS WHEN
WELLPOINTING WOULD BE EXPENSIVE AND OFTEN AT
INCONVENIENTLY CLOSE CENTERS.
THE SHALLOW WELL CAN BE USED TO EXTRACT LARGE
QUANTITIES OF WATER FROM A SINGLE HOLE.
ON CONGESTED SITES USE OF SMALLER NUMBER
DEWATERING POINTS IS PREFERRED (NO HIDERANCE TO
CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS) HENCE SHALLOW WELLS
MAY BE PREFERRED TO WELLPOINTS.
SINCE THE INITIAL COST OF INSTALLATION IS MORE
COMPARED TO WELLPOINTS IT IS PREFERRED IN CASES
WHERE DEWATERING LASTS SEVERAL MONTHS OR MORE.
ANOTHER FIELD OF APPLICATION IS THE SILTY SOILS
WHERE CORRECT FILTERING IS IMPORTANT.
DEEP WELLS
WHEN WATER HAS TO BE EXTRACTED FROM DEPTHS
GREATER THAN 8 M AND IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO LOWER
THE TYPE OF PUMP AND SUCTION PIPING USED IN
SHALLOW WELLS TO GAIN A FEW EXTRA METERS OF
DEPTH THE DEEP WELLS ARE SUCH AND SUBMERSIBLE
PUMPS INSTALLED WITHIN THEM.
A CASED BOREHOLE CAN BE SUNK USING WELL DRILLING
OR BORED PILING RIGS TO A DEPTH LOWER THAN THE
REQUIRED DEWATERED LEVEL. THE DIAMETER WILL BE
150 200 MM LARGER THEN THE WELL INNER CASING,
WHICH IN TURN IS SIZED TO ACCEPT THE SUBMERSIBLE
PUMP.
THE INNER WELL CASING HAS A PERFORATED SCREEN
OVER THE DEPTH REQUIRING DEWATERING AND
TERMINATES BELOW IN 1 M OF UNPERFORATED PIPE
WHICH MAY SERVE AS A SUMP FOR ANY MATERIAL WHICH
PASSES THE FILTER.
AFTER THE SLOTTED PVC OR METAL WELL SCREEN
(CASING) HAS BEEN INSTALLED IT IS SURROUNDED BY
BACKFILL OVER THE UNPERFORATED PIPE
LENGTH AND WITH GRADED FILTER MATERIAL OVER THE
PERFORATED LENGTH AS THE OUTER CASING TYPICAL DEEP WELL
PROGRESSIVELY WITHDRAWN.
AS WITH THE SHALLOW WELLS THE INITIAL PUMPING MAY
ADVANTAGES OF DEEP
INVOLVE TWICE WELLS WHEN EQUILIBRIUM IS
THE VOLUMES
ACHIEVED.
DEEP WELL SYSTEMS ARE OF USE IN GRAVELS TO SILTY
FINE SANDS AND IN WATER BEARING ROCKS.
THEY ARE PRIORITY OF USE WITH DEEP EXCAVATIONS AND
WHERE ARTESIAN WATER IS PRESENT BELOW AN
IMPERMEABLE STRATUM. IF THIS TYPE OF INSTALLATION IS
TO BE DESIGNED ECONOMICALLY THE GROUND
PERMEABILITY MUST BE ASSESSED FROM FULL SCALE
PUMPING TESTS.
BECAUSE OF THEIR DEPTH AND THE USUALLY LONGER
PUMPING PERIOD THESE INSTALLATIONS ARE MORE LIKELY
TO CAUSE SETTLEMENT OF NEARBY STRUCTURES, AND
THE USE OF RECHARGE METHODS MAY HAVE TO BE
CONSIDERED.
EDUCTOR SYSTEM
THIS SYSTEM ALSO KNOWN AS THE JET EDUCTOR
SYSTEM OR EJECTOR SYSTEM OR EDUCTOR WELLPOINT
SYSTEM IS SIMILAR TO THE WELLPOINT SYSTEM.
INSTEAD OF EMPLOYING A VACUUM TO DRAW WATER TO
THE WELLPOINTS, THE EDUCTOR SYSTEM USES HIGH
PRESSURE WATER AND RISER UNITS, EACH ABOUT 30-40
MM IN DIAMETER.
A HIGH PRESSURE SUPPLY MAIN FEEDS WATER THROUGH
A VENTURI TUBE IMMEDIATELY ABOVE THE PERFORATED
WELL SCREEN, CREATING A REDUCTION IN PRESSURE
WHICH DRAWS WATER THROUGH THE LARGE DIAMETER
RISE PIPE. THE HIGH PRESSURE MAIN FEEDS OFF THE
RETURN WATER.
ADVANTAGE OF EDUCTOR SYSTEM

THE ADVANTAGE OF THE EDUCTOR SYSTEM IS THAT IN


OPERATING MANY WELLPOINTS FROM A SINGLE PUMP
STATION, THE WATER TABLE CAN BE LOWERED IN ONE
STAGE FROM DEPTHS OF 10-45 M.
THIS METHOD BECOMES ECONOMICALLY COMPETITIVE AT
DEPTH IN SOILS OF LOW PERMEABILITY.

PUMPING USING EDUCTOR SYSTEM


HORIZONTAL DRAINS
A HIGH WATER TABLE CAN AFFECT THE STABILITY OF
HILLSIDES.HORIZONTAL DRAINS CAN HELP LOWER THE WATER
TABLE IN A SLOPE AND ARE A COMMON SOLUTION FOR STABILIZING
HILLSIDES.HORIZONTAL DRAIN SYSTEMS ARE INSTALLED BY
DRILLING HORIZONTALLY AND INSTALLING PERFORATED OR
SLOTTED PIPE INTO THE SLOPE TO COLLECT WATER AND CONVEY IT
TO A SUITABLE DISCHARGE POINT.

HORIZONTAL DRAINS, OR HYDRAUGERS, WERE FIRST USED TO


EFFECT LANDSLIDE REPAIRS UNDERTAKEN BY THE E. L. RANSOME
CONSTRUCTION CO. IN OAKLAND, CA IN 1940.
THESE ARE ADVANCED ON A SLIGHTLY UPWARD SLOPE TO
PROMOTE GRAVITY FLOW OUT OF THE CASED BOREHOLE
MOST STATE DOTS USE HYDRAUGERS TO ENHANCE LONG-TERM
SLOPE STABILITY OF HIGHWAY CUTS AND FILLS.

PUMPING USING HORIZONTAL DRAINS

METHOD OF INSERTING HORIZONTAL


DRAINS
HORIZONTAL DRILLED WELL
A HIGH WATER TABLE CAN AFFECT THE STABILITY OF
HILLSIDES.HORIZONTAL DRAINS CAN HELP LOWER THE
WATER TABLE IN A SLOPE AND ARE A COMMON SOLUTION
FOR STABILIZING HILLSIDES.HORIZONTAL DRAIN
SYSTEMS ARE INSTALLED BY DRILLING HORIZONTALLY
AND INSTALLING PERFORATED OR SLOTTED PIPE INTO THE
SLOPE TO COLLECT WATER AND CONVEY IT TO A SUITABLE
DISCHARGE POINT.
ADVANTAGES OF HORIZONTAL DRILLED WELL

THE ADVANTAGES OF HORIZONTAL WELLS INCLUDE:
REDUCED WATER AND GAS CONING BECAUSE OF
REDUCED DRAWDOWN IN THE RESERVOIR FOR A GIVEN
PRODUCTION RATE, THEREBY REDUCING THE REMEDIAL
WORK REQUIRED IN THE FUTURE
PUMPING FROM A HORIZONTAL
INCREASED PRODUCTION RATE BECAUSE OF THE DRILLED WELL
GREATER WELLBORE LENGTH EXPOSED TO THE PAY ZONE
REDUCED PRESSURE DROP AROUND THE WELLBORE
LOWER FLUID VELOCITIES AROUND THE WELLBORE
A GENERAL REDUCTION IN SAND PRODUCTION FROM A
COMBINATION OF ITEMS 3 AND 4
LARGER AND MORE EFFICIENT DRAINAGE PATTERN
LEADING TO INCREASED
CHARACTERISTICS OVERALL RESERVES
OF HORIZONTAL RECOVERY
WELLS
HORIZONTAL WELLS ARE NORMALLY CHARACTERIZED BY
THEIR BUILDUP RATES AND ARE BROADLY CLASSIFIED INTO
THREE GROUPS THAT DICTATE THE DRILLING AND
COMPLETION PRACTICES REQUIRED..
1. BUILD RATE
THE BUILD RATE IS THE POSITIVE CHANGE IN INCLINATION
OVER A NORMALIZED LENGTH (E.G., 3/100 FT.)
2. MEDIUM RADIUS HORIZONTAL WELLS
MEDIUM-RADIUS HORIZONTAL WELLS HAVE BUILD RATES OF
6 TO 35/100 FT, RADII OF 1,000 TO 160 FT, AND LATERAL
SECTIONS OF UP TO 8,000 FT. THESE WELLS ARE DRILLED
WITH SPECIALIZED DOWNHOLE MUD MOTORS AND
CONVENTIONAL DRILLSTRING COMPONENTS
3. SHORT RADIUS HORIZONTAL WELLS
SHORT-RADIUS HORIZONTAL WELLS HAVE BUILD RATES OF 5
TO 10/3 FT (1.5 TO 3/FT), WHICH EQUATES TO RADII OF 40
TO 20 FT. THE LENGTH OF THE LATERAL SECTION VARIES
BETWEEN 200 AND 900 FT. SHORT-RADIUS WELLS ARE
DRILLED WITH SPECIALIZED DRILLING TOOLS AND
RELIEF WELL
A RELIEF WELL IS A WELL THAT IS DRILLED TO CONTROL
THE SUDDEN EXPLOSION OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS. THIS
TYPE OF WELL IS GENERALLY A SECONDARY WELL, DUG AT
SOME DISTANCE FROM THE REAL DRILLING SITE. IT
CONSISTS OF TROUBLED PIPING TO CONTROL THE FLOW
OF PRESSURIZED LIQUID. THE WELL IS DRILLED IN SUCH A
WAY THAT IT INTERSECTS WITH THE ORIGINAL WELL.
HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO TARGET THE ACCURATE
POSITION FOR RELIEF WELLS SO AS TO HAVE SUCCESSFUL
EXECUTIONS AT THE HOUR OF NEED.

RELIEF WELL SYSTEMS ARE OFTEN TERMED PASSIVE OR


PASSIVE WELL SYSTEMS BECAUSE THE WELLS ARE NOT
DIRECTLY PUMPED (THE WELLS ARE EFFECTIVELY PUMPED
INDIRECTLYBY THE SUMP PUMPS IN THE EXCAVATION).
THE RELIEF WELLS WORK BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE
PREFERENTIAL PATHWAYS FOR WATER FROM THE AQUIFER
TO BLEED AWAY, THEREBY REDUCING PORE WATER
PRESSURES. THE FLOW FROM THE WELLS IS DRIVEN BY
THE EXISTING GROUNDWATER HEADS, RATHER THAN BY
ARTIFICIAL PUMPING.

IN GROUNDWATER CONTROL SYSTEMS, THE TERM RELIEF


WELLS IS TYPICALLY USED TO DESCRIBE WELLS OF
RELATIVELY LARGE DIAMETER (100 MM TO 450 MM)
FORMED BY DRILLING OR JETTING, AND BACKFILLED WITH
SAND OR GRAVEL, SOMETIMES WITH A PERFORATED WELL
SCREENINSTALLED. THIS TYPE OF WELL IS DISTINCT
FROM THE SMALLER DIAMETER VERTICAL DRAINS CHARACTERISTICS OF RELIEF WELLS
(SOMETIMES KNOWN AS WICK DRAINS OR PREFABRICATED
VERTICAL DRAINS) INSTALLED FOR SOIL CONSOLIDATION ADVANTAGES OF RELIEF WELL SYSTEMS ARE LOW COST
PURPOSES, OFTEN FORMED USING A MANDREL TO PUSH AND SIMPLICITY. RELIEF WELLS TYPICALLY CONSIST OF A
PLASTIC DRAINAGE WICKS INTO SOFT CLAY AND SILT SIMPLE GRAVEL-FILLED BOREHOLE; SINCE THE WELLS DO
SOILS NOT NEED TO ACCOMMODATE PUMPS THEY CAN BE OF
MODEST DIAMETER, REDUCING DRILLING AND
INSTALLATION COSTS.

RELIEF WELLS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE THAT THEY CAN


COPE WITH VERY LOW WELL YIELDS.
RECHARGE WELL
BASICALLY IT IS THE DIRECT OPPOSITE OF A PUMPING
WELL. A RECHARGE WELL PUSHES BACK SURFACE WATER
INTO THE GROUNDWATER SYSTEM. USUALLY, A RECHARGE
WELL IS ONE METRE IN DIAMETER AND SIX METRES DEEP,
LINED WITH CONCRETE RINGS HAVING PERFORATIONS.
THESE PERFORATIONS LET WATER SEEP FROM THE SIDES.
THE RINGS LINE THE RECHARGE WELL FROM BOTTOM TO
TOP WITH A STEEL OR CONCRETE RING CLOSING IT.
RAINWATER THAT GUSHES DOWN TERRACE DRAINS, AND
SURFACE WATER FLOWING IN STORM WATER DRAINS, CAN
BE FILTERED, DE-SILTED AND RECHARGED IN OPEN
WELLS.
COMPLEMENTED BY AN AQUIFER AN UNDERGROUND
LAYER OF WATER-BEARING PERMEABLE ROCK OR
UNCONSOLIDATED MATERIAL SUCH AS SAND, GRAVEL, OR
SILT A RECHARGE WELL HELPS INCREASE THE
ADVANTAGES
GROUNDWATER OFTABLE.
RECHARGE WELL

IT CAN ASSIST RECHARGE OF SHALLOW WELLS.


ALLOWS GROUNDWATER AQUIFERS TO BE TREATED AS
MASSIVE STORAGE TANKS WHERE IN TIMES OF SURPLUS,
THE AQUIFER CAN BE RECHARGED WHILE IN TIMES OF
DROUGHT THE WATER CAN BE EXTRACTED. ONE EXAMPLE
OF THIS IS THE WATER BANK CONCEPT FOR
WINDHOEKS WATER SUPPLY IN NAMIBIA.
IT CAN REDUCE SALINITY IN GROUNDWATER
LOW COST AND SIMPLICITY ENABLES IT TO BE REPLICABLE
BY USERS WITHOUT DONOR FUNDS
DISADVANTAGES OF RECHARGE WELL

WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS OF RECHARGE WATER


ARE HIGH
A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE HYDROGEOLOGY OF
THE AQUIFER IS NEEDED
TECHNOLOGY NEEDED TO CONSTRUCT THESE
STRUCTURES CAN BE QUITE COMPLEX, REQUIRING
ENGINEERING SKILLS.
SIPHON DRAINS
SIPHON DRAINS PUMP WATER BY GRAVITY (WITHOUT THE
NEED FOR EXTERNAL ENERGY INPUT) ALONG
PERMANENTLY PRIMED SIPHON PIPES. THE METHOD IS
USED FOR LONG TERM LOW FLOW RATE PUMPING
APPLICATIONS FOR LANDSLIDE DRAINAGE AND
STABILISATION, WHERE THE NATURALLY SLOPING TERRAIN
CAN ALLOW A SIPHON SYSTEM OPERATE.

THE TECHNIQUE REQUIRES WELLS TO BE INSTALLED IN


THE ZONE WHICH IS TO BE DRAINED OR DEPRESSURISED.
THE SUCTION END OF THE SIPHON PIPE IS INSTALLED IN
THE WELL IN A CONTAINER SO THAT THE END OF THE PIPE
REMAINS SUBMERGED BELOW WATER EVEN IF THE WATER
LEVEL IN THE WELL FALLS BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE
SIPHON PIPE INLET. THE SIPHON PIPE IS CONNECTED AT
GROUND LEVEL TO AN ACCUMULATOR LOCATED FURTHER
DOWN THE SLOPE. THE PURPOSE OF THE ACCUMULATOR
IS TO MAINTAIN THE PRIME IN THE SIPHON.
GROUND FREEZING
GROUND FREEZINGIS A CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE
USED IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE SOIL NEEDS TO BE
STABILIZED SO IT WILL NOT COLLAPSE NEXT TO
EXCAVATIONS, OR TO PREVENT CONTAMINATES SPILLED
INTO SOIL FROM BEING LEACHED AWAY.[1]GROUND
FREEZING HAS BEEN USED FOR AT LEAST ONE HUNDRED
YEARS.

PIPES ARE RUN THROUGH THE SOIL TO BE FROZEN, AND


THEN REFRIGERANTS ARE RUN THROUGH THE PIPES,
FREEZING THE SOIL.[1]FROZEN SOIL CAN BE AS HARD AS
CONCRETE.

SOME GROUND FREEZING PROJECTS USE COMMON


SALT BRINEAS THE REFRIGERANT,[2]BUT OTHER PROJECTS
BENEFIT FROM USING MORE EXOTIC REFRIGERANTS, LIKE
LIQUID NITROGEN.[1][3]

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