Whenever professionals want to remove water from a location on a residential or commercial site, they often use dewatering pumps. However, there are two main types of dewatering pumps. While some actively remove all fluid, others aim to separate water from another material. Using a construction site as an example, this is often sludge or soil. Why is this important? Well, dewatering pumps can be used by construction sites to keep water from entering tunnels, foundations, and other areas. Elsewhere, this type of equipment can supply water for sluicing or jetting. Depending on the project, experts might want to lower the water table below an excavation level. Just in case this isn’t enough, they can also be used to dry solids, for foundation grouting, and for other purposes.
Choosing Equipment
Some manufacturers in this niche lead the way; for example, dewatering pumps from Remko are generally considered some of the best around. With mining packages, AG packages, and contractor packages, there’s something for everyone. But what equipment will professionals choose for this task? Later, we’ll look in more detail at how dewatering pumps work, but the choice of equipment depends on several key factors. For instance, experts will consider the complexity of the project and the amount of liquid that needs to be moved from one location to another. Next, professionals also need to bear in mind how quickly they need to move liquids. Other considerations include:
- Distance between water and potential pump location
- The liquid types
- The pump sizes
- The friction loss
If workers don’t keep these considerations in mind, they could end up disappointed when the equipment that arrives isn’t fit for purpose, for one reason or another.
How Dewatering Pumps Work
Over the years, manufacturers have established multiple ways to move water from one location to another. For example, atmospheric pressure is important with centrifugal pumps. With a vortex created by a rotating impeller, water reaches the pump. With self-priming pumps, the idea is to fill the casing with liquid before starting the project to prevent gases or vapors from reducing pumping efficacy. Another option is to use a diaphragm or reciprocating pump, otherwise known as displacement pumps. The former sees a diaphragm lowered and raised to draw water into the cylinder. Meanwhile, the latter uses a ram or piston to move a cylinder and collect water. When experts need to lower groundwater or perform similar tasks, they often use submersible pumps. While the pump contains a centrifugal unit, it is suspended from a wire cable. Additionally, the pump also houses a motor, and this allows the water to move towards the main unit. Lastly, airlift pumps don’t have any moving parts. Instead, they rely on a long vertical pipe. Using compressed air, it’s possible to transport the air upwards, and this is ideal when moving water from a cofferdam.
Summary
In short, dewatering pumps are designed to remove water from an unwanted location. Choosing a dewatering pump depends on the complexity of the project, the amount of liquid that needs to be removed, how quickly the water needs to be moved, and a variety of other factors. When working with a reliable company, you can choose the right equipment and move water from one location to another without all the inefficiencies that normally come with it. Be sure to contact a professional, reliable company and choose the dewatering pump that suits your project. Alternatively, if you’re just reading this on a random midnight researching session, thank you for joining, and feel free to pass on this new knowledge!