Chapter 10 Managing groundwater in the engineering design and construction of surface works

Examples of problems caused by groundwater, and methods of groundwater control are discussed in other chapters of this book. This Chapter deals with how the risks associated with potential groundwater problems may be managed in practice, in certain engineering situations relating to surface works. For surface works, the problems caused by groundwater can be overcome in a variety of ways. Dealing directly with the groundwater itself (‘groundwater control’) is often an efficient way of addressing the problem and is, in many cases, essential. However, this is not always the case. For some structures, modifications to the permanent works can avoid the need for a groundwater control solution that involves groundwater pumping, monitoring or maintenance in perpetuity. Some design guidance documents require designers to assume that groundwater is at ground level unless there is better information. In this case, the optimal solution may include investment in a more comprehensive investigation to obtain the necessary data to challenge this onerous assumption. In considering the management of groundwater, it is also important to manage surface waters, as these can quickly become sources of groundwater, affecting the groundwater regime.