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Wellpoint Dewatering System: Construction Site Dewatering Best Practices

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Dewatering is essential before any construction excavation. You will need to modify the water table so that you can put up a house. An engineering study will tell you how high the water table is even before you begin. A wellpoint dewatering system works for both low flow in silty areas and more significant flows in gravel and sandy soils. Here are some dewatering best practices.

Laws 

Different regions have legislation on dewatering and discharge of the water. When engaging in dewatering, you should think about the regulations. Before you start dewatering ensure that you have acquired all the necessary permits. In most of Australia, environmental laws require that you do a desktop analysis before dewatering. That is because groundwater has a large number of pollutants. If you discharge these into discharge into surface water, they will contaminate the water.

Discharge Areas 

After picking the dewatering method, you need to think about where the water goes. Best practices dictate that wastewater should not cause harm to the surface. Do not discharge the water onto slopes. That is one of the quickest ways to cause soil erosion. Check for instability and soil erosion in your discharge area. If there are any signs of soil erosion, you should move to another place.

When moving water along a dewatering channel, planting grass on its edge will stabilize the soil. Where possible, discharge the water into a wooded area. The ground is less likely to erode as it is more stable. If you found pollutants in the water during the desktop analysis, ensure that you treat it before discharging it. When you do this, you will ensure that groundwater does not contaminate the surface water.

Smells and Noise 

If your construction is in a residential area, think about your neighbours. The dewatering pump may need to run for long hours to ensure that your project starts in time. Think about the noise levels and how they will affect the people around. Look for dewatering pumps that make low volume noise especially if you will run it day and night.

If you are dewatering sulphate soil, it is bound to produce nasty odours. The water will have an awful smell. You should bear in mind that disturbing sulphate soils will cause the release of arsenic and toxic metals. Ensure that you have an Acid Sulfate Soil Management Plan.  

Conclusion

A wellpoint dewatering system will help you dewater your construction site fast and efficiently. The above best practices will ensure that your dewatering is eco-friendly and safe for your workers.

For more information, contact a company like GSS Hire.


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