Rehabilitation of dams and levees present complex geotechnical conditions. Contractors require dry, safe and stable working environments in order to carry out an effective rehabilitation project.

As our national dam and levee infrastructure ages, the pressure to stabilize construction sites and lower costs will rise. Eductor systems provide a safe, cost-effective dewatering solution for these high-risk projects.

First, a series of eductor wells are drilled and connected to a common header. High pressure water is pumped to the eductor device at the bottom of the well, creating a vacuum that lifts the standing water. As high pressure water is pumped into the wells, groundwater is removed. Groundwater tables are lowered to create stable working conditions.

There are five main reasons to use an eductor system when in need of high pressure, high stability solutions:

1. More versatile than wellpoint systems
2. Lower the water table as much as 90+ feet
3. Higher performance in stratified and/or low permeability soils
4. Greater stability in fine grained soils
5. Low maintenance

Eductor systems have proven effective in removing and controlling groundwater in difficult conditions to provide dry, safe and stable working conditions. They perform in depths greater than 20 feet, where common wellpoint systems cannot. They can also successfully depressurize surrounding impermeable soil formations such as clays and silts.

A single pumping station provides enough pressurized water to activate and regulate up to 100 wells. As the pressurized water is pumped into the well, it is forced through a nozzle and Venturi at the bottom of the well, producing the vacuum necessary to lift the groundwater and execute draw downs of up to 90+ feet.