Handling a High Water Table

The water table is an underground boundary that lies between the soil surface and the area where groundwater saturates spaces between sediments and cracks in rock. The water table fluctuates and typically rises in the spring for many parts of the US. This is due to springtime snow melt in the north and increased rainfall in the south. Most construction projects involve some amount of excavation and consequently, the spring is a busy time for construction.  A high-water table may begin to present an issue when digging a foundation or a trench for utilities. This can affect soil stability and ultimately worker safety, so it is important to have a plan in place if you need to address issues associated with a high water table. 

Form of soil layers,its color and textures,texture layers of earth

If you are curious your future development site may have a high water table, it’s a good idea to check historical data as well as recent rainfall data. Additionally, it is important to understand the areas various soil types because they can play a critical role in ensuring a successful site development plan. There are several options to mitigate water table issues and one of the most common is dewatering. Dewatering requires an NPDES permit. You can learn about the dewatering permitting process for construction sites here.  

You may use dewatering to temporarily lower the water table by pumping ground water from one location to another. You may also pump surface water if it has begun to pool in holes and trenches due to recent or heavy rainfall. There are four main types of dewatering including open sump pumping, well point systems, deep well pumping, and the educator well system. These techniques can be utilized separately or in a combination depending on soil and groundwater conditions. It is extremely important to have a dewatering permit, plan, and Best Management Practices (BMPs) established before dewatering takes place on site. Turbidity sampling or additional analytical samples may also be required.  

KCI can provide you with all of the tools you need to manage a high water table in a cost-effective and environmentally conscious way. We can assist with permitting, dewatering plans, BMP recommendations, and turbidity and analytical sampling. Let us get to work for you today – (888) 346-7779. 

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