What Does
Water Table Mean?
The water table is the level at which underground water saturates the soil.
In trenchless construction, water will rise to the top of the water table in an open borehole. The water table fluctuates with variations in rainfall, and excessive water removal through drilling can deplete underground reservoirs and lower the water table.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Water Table
A high water table increases the likelihood of flooding. The lowering of the water table, such as through excessive groundwater pumping for crop irrigation in the San Joaquin Valley, can result in the land subsidence, where the land surface actually sinks. A low water table can also contribute to sinkholes.
It’s important to monitor the water table during trenchless operations. Water seepage below the water table can create complications during construction that may result in costly delays. Techniques to prevent seepage or to dewater the area may be required.
Trenchless rehabilitation addresses the infiltration of defective pipes below the water table.