Areas with excess groundwater can be hazardous during construction, mining, etc. The question is, “is there a means to make these areas safer and more comfortable for inhabitants, construction works, mining, and other uses?”
Well, the answer to that question is yes, there is a means. This has made it possible to construct complicated structures like bridges, dams, retaining walls, and more, and the process is called dewatering. Thankfully, this article will discuss more essential information about dewatering and wellpoint systems so you can understand them better.
What is Dewatering?
Dewatering is described as the removal of excess groundwater from a site. It is an essential requirement when working in areas with excess groundwater because the groundwater needs to be at a specific level in a site to facilitate a smooth working area.
However, different dewatering methods are used to remove excess groundwater at a site. This difference occurs because of the difference in the soil profile. Using the wrong dewatering method for a soil profile that it is incompatible with can cause more damage to the soil, defeating the initial purpose of the process.
There are four primary methods of dewatering. However, this article will focus on the WellPoint dewatering systems, highlighting their meaning, advantages, and how the system works.
What Are WellPoint Dewatering Systems?
As mentioned earlier, it is a method of dewatering where shallow wells are constructed around the construction site at strategic points to enable groundwater extraction from the construction site.
How Does WellPoint Systems Work?
First, the professional from the dewatering firm you hired quickly examines the site to determine if WellPoint dewatering is the best method for dewatering your site. Suppose the examination shows that the WellPoint system is suited for your site. Then the professional calculates the depth of the well to be drilled around the site while marking out the positions of each point.
The next step is the installation of riser pipes in each well. These are the pipes that carry water from the ground to the surface. These pipes are connected to the main pipe using a flex bow. The flex bow monitors and regulates the amount of water extracted from the soil. The main pipe is connected to a pump that creates the suction force for extracting water from the soil. The extracted water is either channeled out of the site or collected in a tank and taken out of the site.
Advantages of WellPoint Dewatering Systems
These are some of the qualities of WellPoint dewatering systems that set them apart from other dewatering methods:
- Versatility: This dewatering method can be used in almost any soil profile.
- Flexibility: This method can be used in small and large sites because it can be adjusted to suit the site specifications.
- Efficiency: It has remained in use because it reduces the amount of groundwater present at any site.
- Fast: Compared to other dewatering methods, this method is faster as not much protocol is required when dewatering.
- Cost-efficiency: It is more popular than other dewatering systems because it is cheaper to conduct, and the results are top-notch.
Conclusion
WellPoint Systems are one of the few dewatering methods that produce optimum performance when dewatering. This article has highlighted some essential information on WellPoint Systems.
