Professional Documents
Culture Documents
• David Giles
– Co-Founder/Managing Partner:
TerraFirma Earth Technologies, Ltd.
• Construction Dewatering
– What is it?
– Why do it?
• The Consequences of Improper
Dewatering
• Design Considerations
• Subsurface Investigations and Soil
Borings
• Methods of Groundwater Control
• Case Studies
Topics of Discussion
• Construction Dewatering
– What is it?
– Why do it?
Dewatering: What is it?
Intercepting/minimizing groundwater seepage from
entering an excavation.
Depressing the
piezometric water surface
to a point below the
excavation.
Topics of Discussion
Dewatering: Why do it?
Short Term Objectives Long Term Objectives
(Temporary Systems) (Permanent Systems)
• Intercept Seepage • Reduce or eliminate
– Increase slope stability lateral and/or uplift
– Prevent loss of material pressures
• Reduce lateral/uplift • Achieve waterproofing
pressure objectives
• Improve the
excavation and the
backfill characteristics
of the excavation to
allow construction to
proceed in a safe and
Topics of Discussion
• Construction Dewatering
– What is it?
– Why do it?
• The Consequences of Improper
Dewatering
Improper Dewatering
The Consequences
• Blows, Rendering Excavation
Subgrade Unstable
• Boils/Piping, the Creation of Voids
Rendering Slopes and Subgrades
Unstable
• Excavation Support Systems Rendered
Unstable
• Future Settling
• Lost Time
• Decreased Worksite Safety
Improper Dewatering
The Consequences
• Blows, Rendering Excavation Subgrade
Unstable
• Boils/Piping, the Creation of Voids
Rendering Slopes and Subgrades
Unstable
• Excavation Support Systems Rendered
Unstable
• Future Settling
• Lost Time
• Decreased Worksite Safety
Improper Dewatering
The Consequences
• Blows, Rendering Excavation Subgrade
Unstable
• Boils/Piping, the Creation of Voids
Rendering Slopes and Subgrades
Unstable
• Excavation Support Systems
Rendered Unstable
• Future Settling
• Lost Time
• Decreased Worksite Safety
Improper Dewatering
The Consequences
• Blows, Rendering Excavation Subgrade
Unstable
• Boils/Piping, the Creation of Voids
Rendering Slopes and Subgrades
Unstable
• Excavation Support Systems Rendered
Unstable
• Future Settling
• Lost Time
• Decreased Worksite Safety
Improper Dewatering
The Consequences
• Blows, Rendering Excavation Subgrade
Unstable
• Boils/Piping, the Creation of Voids
Rendering Slopes and Subgrades
Unstable
• Excavation Support Systems Rendered
Unstable
• Future Settling
• Lost Time
• Decreased Worksite Safety
Improper Dewatering
Rio Grande River Crossing, Albuquerque, NM
42” Gas Pipeline, Blythe, CA
J. Patrick
Powers
Design Considerations
Dominant Considerations
• Location and Geologic Environment
• Size and Depth of Excavation
• Groundwater (Piezometric) Level
• Soil & Aquifer Characteristics (Hydraulic
Conductivity)
• Proposed Excavation Method and
Excavation Support
• Proposed Schedule
• Avoiding Undesirable Side Effects
– Proximity to Existing Structures, Potable and/or Irrigation
Wells
Design Considerations
Design Considerations
Design Considerations
Topics of Discussion
• Construction Dewatering
– What is it?
– Why do it?
• The Consequences of Improper
Dewatering
• Design Considerations
• Subsurface Investigations and
Soil Borings
• Methods of Groundwater Control
• Case Studies
Subsurface Investigations
Typical Bore Log for Pump House, Fulton, Arkansas
Topics of Discussion
Dewatering Methods
• Open Pumping
• Pre-Drainage
– Wellpoints
– Deepwells
– Eductors
• Methods of Cutoff
– Soil Bentonite
– Interlocking Steel Sheet Pile
– Concrete Caisson
Open Pumping
Favorable Conditions:
• Dense, Well Graded Soils, Some
Cementation/Cohesiveness
• Firm Clays, Few Sand/Silt Lenses Unconnected
Hydraulically
• Hard Fissured Rock
• Low Dewatering Head
• Remote Source of Recharge
• Open Cut, Relatively Flat Slopes, Minimal Depth
Below GW Table
• Steel Interlocking Sheet Pile, Concrete Caisson
Dewatering Methods
•Open Pumping
•Pre-Drainage
• Wellpoints
• Deepwells
• Eductors
• Methods of Cutoff
• Soil Bentonite
• Interlocking Steel
Sheet Pile
• Concrete Caisson
Vacuum Wellpoints
Key System
Components:
• Vacuum Pump
• Suction Header
• Wellpoint Traditional Rotary Lode
Vacuum Wellpoint Pump
• Swingjoint 8”, Diesel Driven
• Discharge Pipe
Eductor
Eductor System
Grande River
•Bayport Terminal Complex – Port of Houston
Generation
•US 93 Wickenburg Bypass
§Results: Dropped
San Juan Chama Drinking Water Project
Drilling Operation
San Juan Chama Drinking Water Project
Drilling Operation
San Juan Chama Drinking Water Project
Drilling Spoils
San Juan Chama Drinking Water Project
Filter Media
San Juan Chama Drinking Water Project
Well Development
San Juan Chama Drinking Water Project
Pump Setting
San Juan Chama Drinking Water Project
Finished Excavation
San Juan Chama Drinking
Water Project
Well
Removal/Abandonmen
San Juan Chama Drinking Water
Project
Breach of Portable
Coffer Dam
Case Studies
•San Juan Chama Drinking Water Project (SJCDWP)
• Install (2) two 54” Pipelines under the Rio Grande
River
•Bayport Terminal Complex – Port of Houston
Generation
•US 93 Wickenburg Bypass
Formation (Clays,
Sands, Silts)
•
3 msl
General Contractor: Zachry Construction Corporation
Bayport Terminal – Port of Houston
Bayport Terminal – Port of Houston
System
§Deep Wells: 8” (30”
BH), Spaced Approx.
75 ft apart, extending
80 ft bgs
§Sand Drains: 2” (6”
BH) – 2 between ea.
pumping well
§65 Deep Wells Total
§130 Sand Drains
§Powered by 5 hp, 60
GPM EA
§Initial Flow Rate:
Estimated at approx
3600 GPM (10 – 12
running at any one
time
§Results: Dropped
Bayport Terminal – Port of
Houston
Pumping Setting
Bayport Terminal – Port of Houston
Discharge
Bayport Terminal – Port of Houston
Discharge
Case Studies
•San Juan Chama Drinking Water Project (SJCDWP)
• Install (2) two 54” Pipelines under the Rio Grande
River
•Bayport Terminal Complex – Port of Houston
Generation
•US 93 Wickenburg Bypass
System
•Deep Wells: 12” dia.
(30” BH), spaced
approximately 75 ft
apart, extending 60 ft
bgs
•10 Deep Wells Total
GPM Each
•Initial Flow Rate:
Estimated at approx
2500 GPM
•Results: Dropped water
Drilling Activities
Case Study: Denver Justice Center, Down
Town Denver, Colorado
River
•Bayport Terminal Complex – Port of Houston
Generation
•US 93 Wickenburg Bypass
•
Case Study: Environmental Retrofit Program,
Luminant Generation Facility, Rockdale, TX
Design Considerations:
Dimensions
– Length 400 ft
– Width 225 ft
– Depth 10 ft
System
•Vacuum Wellpoints
•Approx. 1200 ft perimeter
•Approx. 180 wellpoints
extending to 18 ft bgs (top of
natural clay)
•2 primary wellpoint pumps,
electrically driven
•2 stand by wellpoint pumps,
diesel driven
•Anticipated initial flow of 1800
gpm; anticipated steady state
flow of 900 gpm
Case Study: Environmental Retrofit Program, Luminant
Generation Facility, Rockdale, TX
Water Supply and Custom Designed and Built Self Jetting Head.
Case Study: Environmental Retrofit Program, Luminant
Generation Facility, Rockdale, TX
River
•Bayport Terminal Complex – Port of Houston
Generation
•US 93 Wickenburg Bypass
Design Considerations:
Dimensions
– Length 300 ft
– Width 60 ft
– Depth 15 ft
System
• Deep Wells: 12” dia.
(34” BH), spaced
approximately 60 ft
apart, extending 60 ft
bgs
• 33 Deep Wells Total
• Powered by 20 hp, 600
GPM Each
• Initial Flow Rate:
Estimated at approx
6000 GPM
• Results: Dropped
water several feet
Case Study: US 93 Wickenburg Bypass
Wickenburg, AZ
Drilling Operations
Connection at HDPE
Manifold
Case Study: US 93 Wickenburg Bypass
Wickenburg, AZ
River
•Bayport Terminal Complex – Port of Houston
Generation
•US 93 Wickenburg Bypass
Design Considerations:
Dimensions
– Length 1200 ft
– Depth 12 ft
System
• SumpWells: 12” dia.
(30” BH), spaced
approximately 200ft
apart, extending 15-
25 ft bgs
• 9 Sump Wells Total
• Powered by 2 hp, 40
GPM Each
• Initial Flow Rate:
Estimated at approx
250 GPM
Case Study: Beaver Dam Road Reconstruction
Vail, CO
Drilling Activities
Boulder Removal
Case Study: Beaver Dam Road Reconstructrion
Vail, CO
Drilling Operations
Excavation Following
Successful Dewatering
Final Discharge Point – Adjacent Beaver Creek
Case Study: Beaver Dam Road Reconstruction
Vail, CO
River
•Bayport Terminal Complex – Port of Houston
Generation
•US 93 Wickenburg Bypass
Design Considerations:
Dimensions
– Length 165 ft
– Width 120 ft
– Depth 12 ft (16 ft @
Decant Pump Station)
System
•Vacuum Wellpoints
•60 Wellpoints: 1 ½”, Spaced
approximately 10 ft c. to c.
extending 18-22 ft BGS
•Powered by Vacuum Wellpoint
pump, electric primary, diesel
backup
•Flow Rates: Measured at approx
150 GPM
•Results: Ongoing
Case Study: Trinity Rural Water Supply Co. – Water
Treatment Plant, Trinity, TX
Pre-Drilling Activities
Case Study: Trinity Rural Water Supply Co. – Water
Treatment Plant, Trinity, TX
Jetting Activities
Case Study: Trinity Rural Water Supply Co. – Water
Treatment Plant, Trinity, TX
Discharge
Thank You
Reference Material:
•Driscoll, Fletcher G. Groundwater and Wells, Second Edition. St.
Paul: US Filter/Johnson Screens, 1986