Dewatering Systems - Different Types and Their Benefits
- Written by NewsServices.com

Minerals and water are the most used solvent in the mining industry and are also employed in the hydrometallurgical process. Dewatering is a process required to allow excavations to be made in a safe and dry condition below groundwater level, ensuring stability for construction and mining projects.
By lowering the groundwater level, it lowers the water table that might cause problems during excavations. This process is considered safer and more efficient for the workers. Typically the dewatering process is usually done by pumping or evaporation. The Dewatering process ensures projects are within regulation, safe for your equipment, and time-efficient. Safe underground water removal by dewatering prevents hazards like unstable foundations and equipment failure due to bogging.
Dewatering pump systems are general-purpose pumps because you can use them for a large variety of applications. There are various methods used to control the underground water and are not necessarily interchangeable as each one has a narrow range of applications. Dewatering can turn out to be a tedious task if one doesn’t adopt the proper method. Therefore, adopting a suitable dewatering method for a particular site condition is always a difficult decision to make. Without careful and adequate supervision and planning, dewatering can cause several problems, amongst which is soil erosion.
Dewatering methods
Several methods are employed for dewatering, which helps you determine which might be the best suitable for the site you are working on. Amongst them are:
1) Well point dewatering
One of the most common and cost-effective methods of dewatering construction sites. This method is flexible and easy to install. It uses rings or lines that are installed around the excavation area. This system primarily works using the suction principle, making it suitable for depths up to five or six meters. This makes it ideal for buildings with deep basements.
2) Sump pump dewatering
This is the most common and economical method of dewatering since it works by gravity. The sump is created in the excavated area, facilitating easy discharge of water through robust handling pumps. This method is used for shallow bases in waterlogged areas. Groundwater seeps into the excavation area, where it is collected in sumps and pumped out. This method is used in shallow excavation areas.
3) Deep wells dewatering
One or multiple wells are drilled in this process, and pumps are placed in each shaft. The depth and capacity of the pumps may vary depending on site conditions. Dewatering is achieved by building deep wells in soils where permeability is averagely moderate. By creating deep wells around the vicinity, the ground waterfalls into them under the influence of gravity.
Optimisation
There is a wide range of options for implementing and designing such systems, so there is a need to optimise. Groundwater management is a process required on any project and must be controlled to allow work to proceed. This ensures safety and reliability.
There are four main approaches to dewatering optimisation:
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Empirical
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Numerical
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Analytical
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Observational
Conclusion
Due to the different dewatering systems, there is no perfect optimisation method to address all the aspects of the dewatering system. Still, adequate supervision and planning make it possible to know suitable systems required at a particular site. Channels used for dewatering must be stable and maintained without having to cause problems at the site. Dewatering systems are commonly used throughout the construction industry, including fuel system maintenance companies.