Dewatering Permit?
Dewatering Permit?
(OP)
Recently, there was an employee who persisted that the contractor could not de-water an area unless he applied for a dewatering permit. Is there such a thing? The project already had an existing NPDES permit posted. I thought that the NPDES Permit umbrella's all de-watering; provided that it is done correctly according to the rules. A little input please.





RE: Dewatering Permit?
Dewatering activities are regulated by various state and local laws and regulations. You need to check with the local authority having jurisdiction.
Here is an example:
http://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/bwa-002.pdf
RE: Dewatering Permit?
Anyways, I've never heard of holding the contractor up for weeks on waiting for a dewatering permit, thats my point.
Maybe there is. I just hate contacting local agencies! I thought that having a NPDES permit covered dewatering. More input is appreciated! Thanks
RE: Dewatering Permit?
yes, a de-watering permit from the state is probably required. Typically this is not a big deal assuming you are not removing large quantities of water. The contractor may be required to keep records of the pumping and you would submit those to the state for their records. If you are installing wells to dewater, they will have to be registered also.
It shouldn't require weeks to get a permit. (although with the recent budget issues, hard to say how many employees are working at the department of water resources these days)
RE: Dewatering Permit?
If this is truly a small amount of dewatering over a short time period, and you can place it in a hole adjacent to the excavation and allow the water to perc back to the soil or evaporate, then you probably "should" get a permit, but for a small project, you probably can get away without one. However, if you are discharging ANY amount of water to a storm sewer or adjacent stream then you definitely need a dewatering permit.
RE: Dewatering Permit?
THANKS A BUNCH.
RE: Dewatering Permit?
to the best of my knowledge there is no widely-held requirement for dewatering permits, but at the local level there could be. . . .
f-d
¡papá gordo ain't no madre flaca!
RE: Dewatering Permit?
RE: Dewatering Permit?
When you dewater a site, the lowering of the water table removes bouyancy. This increases the state of stress on the underlying soils (i.e., the soils that are below the dewatering limits).
Hope this helps.
f-d
¡papá gordo ain't no madre flaca!
RE: Dewatering Permit?
Which you require is determined by a number of things including, but not necessarily limited to: proximity to a wetland, State Waters, or other waters of the State; depth of dewatering; proximity to public water sources (supply wells for treatment plants); volume of dewatering; length of time dewatering will occur; etc.
You also have to have a dewatering permit if your project is within the boundaries of a Master Dewatering Permit. This can be the case if you single parcel project is within a master planned community.
If not in Florida, then I would find the water management district or equivalent agency, and find out their regulations. By the way, while the NPDES permit is usually not related to dewatering, you can violate your NPDES permit with bad dewatering practices.
Hope this helps,
Sasmo12
RE: Dewatering Permit?
it happens all the time though. dewatering usually comes with headaches that start with a couple weeks lead time ahead of the dewatering operation. i figure people wil eagerly look the other way hoping there aren't any other unforeseen delays.
RE: Dewatering Permit?
If you file for a NPDES permit for a certain project
it covers dewatering. IT IS NOT LIMITED TO EROSION CONTROL AND SEDIMENT CONTROL.
RE: Dewatering Permit?
The General NPDES has alot to do with dewatering. You may want to do some more research.
RE: Dewatering Permit?
A 4 story residential in the conjested city setting. A intense rain storm occurred shortly after completion of the basement excavation and flood the open pit. The contractor started to pump the water out with sumps working faster then the dimished rain fall and seepage infiltration from the soaked pit walls. On the next day, he had made the pit near dry with some thing extra hanging on one edge - an adjacent 4 story building, which had broke the auger pile shoring, had sinked, tilted, and slided a few feet into the pit. After lengthy legal process, the contractor had to build two buildings with large amount of fines and compensations.
The entire city was on sediment of an ancient lake, there were efforts to control settlement by replendish the lowered groundwater due to excessive pumping. A permit wasn't required for the size of project, But...
RE: Dewatering Permit?
of course, during your dewatering operations as with all construction, you have to follow the requirements of the SWPPP to meet the intent of the NPDES. However NPDES was not initiated to control dewatering operations, but for much broader issues of water pollution caused by a multitude of activities. Primary one us engineers are concerned with are construction activities which include excavation and the release of sediment to waters of the US. So, by all means you must submit a NOI, prepare a SWPPP, conduct your activities using BMP's and follow all the requirements of your states NPDES permit. In addition, you need to follow the state's requirements for dewatering which probably means obtain a dewatering permit. This means protect your property from subsidence, protect adjacent properties and protect receiving waters from pollution caused by your dewatering activities.
RE: Dewatering Permit?
That being said we have not dewatered in congested/urban areas.
I would agree with cvg on the points he made with regard to NPDES, as for the subsidence; that sounds prudent as well.
I would contact a local/regional company that specializes in dewatering (which can be highly specialized equipt., and very skill oriented)...they should be able to give you a cost breakdown that should include any fees, permits, bonding and or surety requirements for said work.
RE: Dewatering Permit?
RE: Dewatering Permit?
RE: Dewatering Permit?
Dick
Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.
RE: Dewatering Permit?
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wastewater/iw/docs/62-621.300_2.pdf
RE: Dewatering Permit?