Compiled by: Prof.B.S.Chawhan M.Tech(Geo-Tech Engg), Asst.Professor,CED,Government.

Engineering College,Haveri-581110 1
GEO-TECHNICAL ENGINEERING-II

CHAPTER-08(02)
DRAINAGE AND DEWATERING
Determination of Ground water table by Hvorselev’s method(Raising water level method

W.T Page |
D.W.T 1

H3

H2 h3 T1+3ΔT=T

h2 T1+2ΔT=T
H1
h1 T1+ΔT=T

1-Casing,2-Ground level,3-Final ground water level,4-water level in bore hole after bailing out at T=T1.
Fig.1. Hvorselev’s method of locating ground water table
During the design and construction phases of a foundation, location of the water table should be known and hence it should be
established as accurately as possible.
Generally, it is observed in a bore hole after a lapse of 24h after the hole is cleared by horizontal jet. A steel tape coated with
chalk is lowered into the hole and the water mark on the tape is recorded.
In such cases a computational method proposed by Hvorselev may be used. In this method the rise (or fall) of water level in the bore
hole for two or more equal intervals of time ΔT is noted. The water from the borehole is bailed out to a level well below the
approximate water table or as near to the bottom of the hole in a deep hole. Then the levels of water in the bore hole after a period of
ΔT, and after a period of 2ΔT (shown in figure) are observed.
The depths from the water table are;
2 2 2
h1 h2 h3
H1 = , H2 = , H3 = -------------------------------(1)
h1 − h2 h1 − h2 h2 − h3

The borehole should be then be filled with water up to the calculated average depth to water table (DW.T) and if there is no change
in the level, the calculated value is corrected. Otherwise more observation should be made.
CONTROL OF GROUND WATER DURING EXCAVATION:
1. DEWATERING:
Dewatering means lowering the ground water level temporarily to prevent excavations to be made below the water table with
relative case and to keep the construction area dry for equality construction.
Dewatering serves manifold purposes generally during the construction of deep basements, power houses, dry docks, pumping
stations and tunnels.
By lowering the water table neither do the slopes experience any seepage force is the bottom acted upon by the upward seepage
pressure. As shown below figure.

W.T

1 2

1-Original water level,2-Lowered water table.

Fig.2. Lowering of ground water table
As no water escapes through the bottom of the slopes, no material loss can take place along with water. Sometimes in impervious
layer overlies a water bearing strata which is under artesian pressure and when an excavation is made in the impervious layer, there
exists the possibility of heaving and rupture of the bottom of the excavation. Such an eventually can be removed if the pressure in
water in the water bearing strata is reduced by pumping water from the strata.
DITCHES AND SUMPS:
2
 Compiled by: Prof.B.S.Chawhan M.Tech(Geo-Tech Engg), Asst.Professor,CED,Government.Engineering College,Haveri-581110 2
W.T
3

5
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4 2

1-Original water table,2-Cut slope,3-Pump,4-Sump,5-Sand.

Fig.3. Lowering of ground water level by pumping from a sump.
If the excavation is made into a relative strong material, a ditch is cut along the periphery of the bottom of the excavation and the
water seeping along the sides and floor of the excavation will get collected I the ditch. The collected water is then led into sumps dug
at selected points and is then pumped out of the sumps (as shown above figure). This method is known as sump pumping.
WELL POINT SYSTEM, DEEPWELL SYSTEM, SHALLOW WELL SYSTEM:
1 2 3 5

G.L G.L

1-To collector pipe, 2-Excavation,3-Original water level,4-Deep8well,5-To collector pipe,6-Drawdown curve after pumping,8-Pervious
layer,8-Impervious layer.
Fig. 4.Lowering of ground water level by installation of deep well.

a b
c
1-Header pipe,2-Riser pipe,3-Screen,4-Drive point,5-Water table before drainage,6-Well point,7-water level other drainage.
Fig.5. Lowering of water level with well points: (a) & (b) detail of drive point and screen of a well point and
connection well points with header pipe, (c) multi-stage well point installation for lowering of water level to greater depth.
In water to reduce the quantity of seepage water, the seepage pressure and the dependence of excavation rate on seepage rate,
relatively impervious sheet piles are driven along the periphery of the working area to the predetermined depth. The excavation is
then made and the water is pumped out from the excavation side of the sheet pill wall.
Deep filtered wells are often used in locations where the water table is deep for lowering the water table or for controlling artesian
pressures in the water bearing stratum beneath excavation (shown in figure above(4)).
Initially, a few wells may be installed and if they are found insufficient to control additional wells may be installed. This flexibility is
an advantage of this method.
Well points are small diameter wells with one or more sections at the bottom slotted or screened. These sections act as filters. The
riser pipes are connected to header pipes and water is discharged through discharge lines to a sufficient distance from the working
area. Sometimes an additional filter cover of sand is placed around the slotted or screen sections.
 Compiled by: Prof.B.S.Chawhan M.Tech(Geo-Tech Engg), Asst.Professor,CED,Government.Engineering College,Haveri-581110 3
A well point can lower the water table beyond 4.5m in one stage and if the project requires lowering water table beyond 4.5m
two or more stages of well point should be used (shown in figure (a,b & c)). Well points are suitable when the submergence available
for a well screen is small, i.e., the impervious layer is close to the bottom of the cut.
ELECTRO-OSMOSIS METHOD:
For soils with very low permeability, as an silty soil instead of gravity drainage the methods electro-osmosis method is more suitable.
A line of metal well points serving as cathodes and another line of rods acting as anodes are installed. When electric current is passed
through soil having towards the cathode and collect in the wells. This water is then pumped out. Although the amount of water
collected by this method is quite small, its influences on the soil mass are substantial. Due to the removal of water the direction of flow Page |
of water is opposite to direction due to hydraulic gradient and the effect on soil is two-fold. The silt with reduced moisture content 3
gain in strength and the soil mass is relieved of seepage pressure contributing towards the activating force.
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1-Cathode (well connected to pumping system),2-Perforated tube,3-Oroginal water table,4-Anode (steel rod),5-Flow lines.
Fig.6. Electro-Osmosis method for soils.
The floe rate to a cathode well point can be estimated using a modification of Darcy’s law as follows;
q = k e ie A --------------------------------------- (1)
Where,
q=flow rate, m3/sec
ke=electro-osmote coefficient of permeability used on voltage,1X10-9 to 7X10-9m/s or V/m,
ic=electrical potential gradient, V/m,
A=Cross-sectional area in m2.
The assumption of power varies from 1 to 10kw per m3 of stabilized soil.

CONCLUSION:
In all the above methods of lowering, the increase in strength is somewhat indirect as the strength increase is due to an increase
in the effective stress or due to a decrease in moisture content affected by the lowering of water table.

1. The water in a bore hole was bailed to a depth of 11m below the ground level and the recorded rise in water level in the bore
hole are as follows:
h1=60cm in 24hrs; h2=55cm in 24hrs;and h3=50cm in 24hrs. Estimate the ground water table.
Solution: Given data:
a. Depth=11m, b. h1=60cm, c.h2=55cm,d.h3=50cm,e.t1= 24hrs, t2= 24hrs and t3= 24hrs.
 Compiled by: Prof.B.S.Chawhan M.Tech(Geo-Tech Engg), Asst.Professor,CED,Government.Engineering College,Haveri-581110 4

To find: a. E.G.W.T=?
Procedure:
2
h1 0.60 2
1. H1 = = = 7.20m D.W.T
h1 − h2 0.60 − 0.55
2
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h2 0.55 2 H3
4
2. H2 = = = 6.05m
h1 − h2 0.60 − 0.55
2 H2 h3 T1+3ΔT=T
h3 0.50 2
3. H3 = = = 5.00m
h2 − h3 0.55 − 0.50 h2 T1+2ΔT=T
4. Depth of water table(from H1=7.20m)=11-7.2=3.80m H1
5. Depth of water table(from H2=6.05m)=11-(6.05+0.60+0.55)=3.80m h1 T1+ΔT=T
6. Depth of water table(from H3=5m)=11-(5+0.60+0.55+0.50)=4.35m
7. ∴ The average depth to the water table is,
DW.T= (3.8+3.8+4.35)/3=3.98m.
July/2005
2. It is desired to establish the location of ground water table in a clay material. The bore hole was bailed to a depth of 12m below
the ground level and the level of water in the bore hole was observed to rise by 0.8m on next day and 0.7m on second day and 0.6m
on third day. Estimate the ground water table.
Solution: Given data:
b. Depth=12m, b. h1=0.80m, c.h2=0.70m, d.h3=0.60m, e.t1= 24hrs (1st day), t2= 48hrs (2nd day) and t3=72hrs(3rd day).
To find: a. E.G.W.T=?
Procedure:
2
h1 0.8 2
1. H1 = = = 6.40m
h1 − h2 0.80 − 0.70
2
h2 0.70 2
2. H2 = = = 4.90m
h1 − h2 0.80 − 0.70
2
h3 0.60 2
3. H3 = = = 3.60m
h2 − h3 0.70 − 0.60
4. Depth of water table(from H1=6.40m)=12-6.4=5.60m
5. Depth of water table(from H2=4.90m)=12-(4.90+0.80+0.70)=5.60m
6. Depth of water table(from H3=3.60m)=12-(3.60+0.80+0.70+0.60)=6.30m
7. ∴ The average depth to the water table is,
DW.T=(5.6+5.68+6.30)/3=5.83m.

May/June-2010
8. To establish the location of ground water table in clayey strata, water in the borehole is bailed out to depth of 12m below
ground surface. Rise in water was recorded at 24hrs intervals as:
First day=0.6m, second day=0.55m, third day=0.5m. Estimate the ground water table.
Solution: Given data:
c. Depth=12m, b. h1=60cm, c.h2=55cm,d.h3=50cm,e.t1= 24hrs, t2= 24hrs and t3= 24hrs.
To find: a. E.G.W.T=?
Procedure:
2
h1 0.60 2
1. H1 = = = 7.20m
h1 − h2 0.60 − 0.55
2
h2 0.55 2
2. H2 = = = 6.05m
h1 − h2 0.60 − 0.55
2
h3 0.50 2
3. H3 = = = 5.00m
h2 − h3 0.55 − 0.50
4. Depth of water table(from H1=7.20m)=12-7.2=4.80m
 Compiled by: Prof.B.S.Chawhan M.Tech(Geo-Tech Engg), Asst.Professor,CED,Government.Engineering College,Haveri-581110 5
5. Depth of water table(from H2=6.05m)=12-(6.05+0.60+0.55)=4.80m
6. Depth of water table(from H3=5m)=12-(5+0.60+0.55+0.50)=5.35m
7. ∴ The average depth to the water table is,
DW.T=(4.8+4.8+5.35)/3=4.98m.
June/July/2008
8. Estimate the position of the ground water table from the following data obtained from the field. Depth up to which water is
bailed out is 30m. Raise in the water levels: on 1st day 2.2m, 2nd day 1.8m and 3rd day 1.5m.
Solution: Given data: Page |
d. Depth=30m, b. h1=2.2m, c.h2=1.8m, d.h3=1.5m, e.t1= 24hrs (1st day), t2= 48hrs (2nd day) and t3=72hrs (3rd day). 5
To find: a. E.G.W.T=?
Procedure:
2
h1 2.2 2
1. H1 = = = 12.1m
h1 − h2 2.2 − 1.8
2
h2 1.8 2
2. H2 = = = 8.10m
h1 − h2 2.2 − 1.80
2
h3 1.5 2
3. H3 = = = 7.50m
h2 − h3 1.8 − 1.5
4. Depth of water table(from H1=12.10m)=30-12.1=17.90m
5. Depth of water table(from H2=8.10m)=30-(8.10+2.2+1.8)=17.9m
6. Depth of water table(from H3=7.50m)=30-(7.50+2.20+1.80+1.50)=17.00m
7. ∴ The average depth to the water table is,
DW.T=(17.90+17.90+17.00)/3=17.60mts.

June/July/2011
9. Establish the location of ground water in a clayey strata, water in box hole was bailed out to a depth of 10.67m below ground
surface and rise of water was recorded at 24hour interval. h1=64.0cm, h2=57.9cm, h3=51.8cm.

GOOD-LUCK