Key considerations for successful dewatering

A well-planned dewatering strategy is essential to keep projects safe, reliable and on schedule. Xylem’s new UK&I dewatering manager, Peter Snyman, shares five key considerations for effective dewatering.

Dewatering – the removal of groundwater or surface water from an excavation or working area – is a complex process often taking place in demanding environments. 

It is essential across a range of applications, including construction, mining, tunnelling and infrastructure projects, where uncontrolled water ingress can flood working areas, compromise ground stability and disrupt operations, as well as pose significant safety risks. 

Early planning 

As such, dewatering should be planned from the outset of a project. This means working with specialists to assess site-specific demands, including expected water volumes and ground conditions. This proactive approach will identify potential risks, ensures the right equipment is selected and reduce the need for reactive interventions further down the line.

Equipment choice

Xylem supports six key sectors with dewatering: construction, mining, utilities, industrial operations, municipal infrastructure and emergency response. Each faces different challenges, from groundwater ingress and flood risk on construction sites to water management in mines and maintaining critical infrastructure during flooding. 

Selecting the right equipment for these harsh and variable environments requires technical advice from skilled specialists. Xylem has a team of dewatering engineers who help companies identify the right pump for the application. 

This includes determining whether a surface-mounted or submersible pump is most suitable, as well as looking at expected flow rates, total dynamic head, water quality, solids content, wear characteristics and available power supply. 

Understanding these factors is essential for system efficiency and reliability. Undersized equipment can leave a site vulnerable to rising water levels, while an incorrectly specified system may consume unnecessary energy.

Alongside equipment supply, Xylem also provides maintenance, repairs and spare parts. For a process as complex as dewatering, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) spares should always be used. Considerable, high-end engineering goes into designing these components and using non-OEM parts can put equipment at risk of premature failure. 

Specialist support

Dewatering is an engineering discipline that requires a detailed understanding of many areas including hydrogeology, pump technology and environmental compliance. For businesses whose core expertise lies elsewhere, this specialist knowledge may not always be available in-house.

As well as providing industry-leading equipment, Xylem offers comprehensive dewatering support, from initial site assessments and system design to pump and pipe installation, ongoing maintenance and technical support. This also includes onsite audits to assess existing systems and identify opportunities to improve efficiency.

Advanced technology 

Managing water is serious business, if it is not controlled, sites can flood and become unstable and unsafe.  Having high-performing equipment in place is critical to keeping sites safe, productive and compliant.     

Xylem’s industry-leading dewatering portfolio combines Flygt submersible and Godwin automatic self-priming pumps. Designed for temporary bypass, construction dewatering and emergency pumping applications, Godwin pumps are surface mounted for dependable, reliable and rapid deployment. 

The Flygt range includes low, medium and high-capacity solutions for construction, mining, municipal and industrial applications. A comprehensive fleet of rental equipment is available across the UK for projects that require a temporary solution.

Carbon efficiency 

Energy efficiency, net zero and sustainability are important considerations in dewatering, particularly because pumps can run for long periods. The key is to look at the total energy consumed over the life of the project rather than just the initial cost of the product. 

Flygt and Godwin pumps are robustly engineered to handle the abrasion and corrosion associated with demanding applications. Their design helps manage wear and supports reliable operation over extended periods, reducing the risk of premature failure and the need for repairs or replacement. 

From an energy perspective, Flygt and Godwin pumps are designed to use the minimum amount of energy required for the application. This can reduce operating costs, energy consumption and associated carbon emissions.

To find out more about Xylem’s dewatering solutions visit www.xylem.com/en-uk/