TDI is pleased to share this open-access paper, co-authored by three leading industry experts, Dr Martin Preene (Coffey Geotechnics), Dr Toby Roberts (WJ Groundwater), and Professor William Powrie (University of Southampton). Drawing on more than 40 years of project experience, the paper updates the practical guidance found in CIRIA Report C750 Groundwater Control: Design and Practice and provides a useful framework for selecting the most appropriate pumped groundwater-control method including wells, wellpoints, and ejector wells based on the required drawdown and estimated soil hydraulic conductivity.
The paper covers the three principal approaches to groundwater control — pumping, exclusion, and fluid counter pressure — with a focused review of pumped methods in granular soils. It explores the historical development of guidance diagrams, the role of soil hydraulic conductivity and drawdown in method selection, and the practical constraints of each technique. Importantly, the paper introduces an updated range of application diagram that reflects modern design and installation practice, including the growing use of vacuum-assisted drainage through vacuum deepwells and sealed wellpoints. A practical decision-making framework is also presented to guide practitioners through the key stages of groundwater control design — from identifying the problem and defining the solution, to selecting the technology and assessing potential environmental impacts.
A valuable resource for any engineer or practitioner working in the dewatering and groundwater sector.
The paper can be downloaded via the link below:
