Groundwater Engineering

Richter are specialists in the design of dewatering and groundwater control systems. We provide specialist advice and design services in the fields of dewatering and groundwater engineering for clients in the construction and mining industries.

Led by Dr Martin Preene, who has more than 30 years’ experience on projects worldwide in the investigation, design, installation and operation of groundwater control and dewatering systems for temporary works purposes. We integrate hydrogeology and geotechnical engineering skills to provide innovative, cost-effective and safe solutions to groundwater problems on construction and mining projects. Dr Preene is also a past Chairman of the British Geotechnical Association (BGA).

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Groundwater Engineering

Richter use our unrivalled dewatering and groundwater control expertise, to help our existing and new clients

Dewatering and groundwater control is an essential part of many construction and mining projects, where excavations extend below groundwater level. When designed and installed to high standards, groundwater control can allow excavation and construction to proceed more rapidly, more safely and more cheaply. Conversely, poorly planned control of groundwater can lead to significant delays and cost increases during excavation, or can lead to operational or maintenance problems during the lifetime of a particular project.

There are two main groups of groundwater control techniques:

  • Methods that use low permeability cut-off walls and other barriers to exclude water from the excavation (known as exclusion techniques).
  • Methods that control groundwater by pumping from sumps or wells (known as construction dewatering techniques).
  • Construction dewatering
  • Temporary works groundwater control
  • Mine dewatering
  • Groundwater cut-off walls
  • Dewatering for tunnels and shafts
  • Dewatering for dry docks and graving docks
  • Pumping tests and groundwater investigations
  • Permanent dewatering systems
  • Basement impact assessments
  • Mitigation of groundwater flooding
  • Water supply wells
  • Open loop geothermal systems
  • Remediation of contaminated groundwater

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