Whether it’s the hurricane season that is now upon us, springtime flooding or water buildups due to backed up sewers and drain pipes, the ability to safely and adequately dewater sites is more important than ever. 

Dewatering affected areas and buildings as soon as possible keeps water damage to structures and building materials from getting worse and reduces the chances for the formation of dangerous mildew and mold.

This is why dewatering is such an essential service for disaster cleanup contractors to offer. It truly makes a difference to clients, by providing visible benefits that justify the cost of hiring recovery companies at a time when the clients’ instincts may be to save money wherever they can.

This being said, it is vital for contractors to do dewatering right. Mess up the process, and you could end up making damage to the flooded area worse.

WAYS TO DEWATER

There are four key ways to dewater affected sites. In all cases, care should be taken to send the removed water to a location that does not reflood the site, nor pollute the natural environment.

Pumps are the most popular method for dewatering sites, whether they be submersible, centrifugal or diaphragm-based models. The trend in disaster recovery is to choose pumps with the highest durability and run time, offset by minimal power consumption and heat transmission.

In this last area, submersible pumps offer a real advantage, since the heat they generate is removed by the water they’re immersed in. However, submersible pumps can consume more power than other models.

Small-diameter wells can also help in dewatering sites, assuming that the goal is to drop the level of groundwater raised by flooding. To do the job, these wells are piped to a common vacuum pump, which sends the extracted water to another location. If need be, the water can be pumped into tanker trucks and removed, but this is a resource-intensive solution.

If they happen to be available, existing constructed and/or natural drainage systems can be exploited to dewater sites. If not, then the quick deployment of bulldozers or other machinery can help to create temporary channels.

Finally, simple siphon hoses can be used to dewater an affected site, if it happens to be on a higher elevation than the location of a drainage channel. Use a pump to prime the drainage hose, then let gravity do the dewatering work for you.

POINTS TO REMEMBER

Water from hurricanes and tornadoes is not just water. It can contain debris, contaminants, chemicals, dead animals and anything else loosened by the storm. It’s not just removing water. So, sending that dirty water to a safe location is just one of the points that contractors need to keep in mind. It is also necessary to use pumps and hoses with sufficient capacity and power to do the job on an ongoing basis. All pipe connections, clamps and seals also need to be robust and reliable, and their power sources and supply cables must be waterproof, fray-free and properly grounded.

With respect to powering pumps, generators are a must. Make sure that they are powerful enough to handle the load, with sufficient fuel capacity to run for long periods. At the same time, you have to be able to move them to the site, so portability matters too. Never place them on surfaces vulnerable to flooding.

When buying dewatering pumps, ask about their ability to handle contaminated water and filter out debris. Using equipment that filters out debris will prevent breakdowns during service. It is possible to stick a consumer-grade submersible waterfall pump into a flooded basement, but chances are it will clog up with debris within minutes, if not sooner.

THREE TRENDS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Dewatering equipment is becoming more sophisticated, with remote control and monitoring being made possible through Internet of Things connections. Granted, the conditions that exist right after a disaster usually don’t make this kind of remote management practical. But as things settle down, it may be possible to implement remote control and monitoring in some cleanup situations. In places where flooding is regular, monitoring equipment could make short work of flooding king tides.

A case in point: Smartrek Technologies is a maker of remote sensor networks for monitoring dewatering pumps and piping systems. When it is possible to do so, “Monitor and manage groundwater levels, vacuum levels for wells, pump operation with electrical power, pressure, flow rates, tank levels, etc. remotely to avoid unnecessary employee travel,” says Smartrek’s website. “Monitor and remotely control levels, pressure and flow to prevent overflows, detect equipment failure and get peace of mind.” 

Eco-friendliness is also a trend to watch for; specifically dewatering pumps and other machinery that uses less power than before, while minimizing pollution to the environment. Portability and compactness is the third trend, because the more capability a disaster recovery and cleanup crew can carry with them using smaller form factors, the better.

THE TAKEAWAY

Dewatering can be a moneymaker for contractors. However, like most fields in the world of disaster cleanup, it is a service that requires the appropriate equipment and know-how to execute these operations properly. So do your homework, and then take the plunge into dewatering. Your clients and your bottom line will be glad you did.