On Dewatering and Permits for Utah Construction Sites

There are several needs that may be required on a given construction site before work can begin, and many of these surround water, stormwater and related areas. There are multiple different specific sub-categories that you might have to consider here, and one common such need is known as dewatering.

At Silver Leaf SWPPP, we're happy to offer quality dewatering services and many other stormwater management solutions to clients throughout Utah, ensuring everything from erosion control to contaminant prevention and more. What exactly is dewatering, and why is it so important? Furthermore, will you need a permit for dewatering on your Utah job site? Let's look at answers to these questions, plus some basic tips on safety during dewatering that our professionals will always be following.

What is Dewatering on a Construction Site?

Firstly, for those unfamiliar with the term, dewatering is simply the removal of water from a particular area. It can be done in any number of different settings and for many different reasons, including as part of stormwater management on a construction site.

Dewatering may involve pumping water off your job site to an area where it can be disposed of properly or processed appropriately, such as in a waste water treatment plant. On your construction site, dewatering can be necessary before work can actually start to ensure that you don't have a lot of excess water or unusable soil where building needs to take place. It is often used during the excavation process and pumping runoff into areas where it can be contained and processed properly, depending on the site and its needs.

Many construction sites will have to deal with several different aspects of dewatering, including groundwater remediation, runoff management and stormwater treatment.  Plus, in many cases where heavy machinery is being used on your job site, there's always a risk of pollution resulting from oil and fuel products leaking into the groundwater or other bodies of water.

Additionally, for sites that are located near existing bodies of water like lakes or rivers, dewatering and runoff management will be all the more important to ensure that you're not impacting the waters in any way. That's why we always strive to offer comprehensive services when it comes to dewatering during construction.

Hazards of Standing Water on a Construction Site

Dewatering is vital for a few reasons, and many of these relate to the hazards created by standing water on your job site. Here are some of these hazards:

• Foundation holes filling with water: If a foundation hole starts to fill with water, that can create problems when it comes to the stability of your building and its foundation. The surrounding soil can be quite unstable if there is too much water present, which will make it easier for structures to shift or collapse.
• Hazards for workers: Excess water on your construction site poses many different dangers to your workers, including being a risk for slips and falls. In addition, the presence of water on your site can make it much harder to maintain the safety of workers operating machinery like forklifts or construction vehicles in wet conditions.
• Erosion risks: If there are excess areas of standing water on your job site, this can create serious erosion risks. Heavy rainfall, for example, can cause large amounts of runoff to pool on your site, which then creates lots of risk for soil erosion and other damage as the water begins to drain away from the construction site.
• Trucks getting stuck: There are also some more specific risks associated with standing water, especially on large construction sites. For example, if there's excess water on your site and you need to move heavy machinery around with trucks or other vehicles, you risk having them get stuck in the mud or being unable to navigate properly.

Do You Need a Dewatering Permit?

In the state of Utah, a permit will be required for dewatering anytime water is being discharged into a public drain that isn't treated before releasing water into public bodies. In addition, only non-contaminated water that isn't harmful to the environment can be discharged into a public drain, so you will need to make sure that your water is meeting these requirements.

If you're unsure whether or not you need a permit for dewatering on your construction site, it's always best to check with local government agencies first and discuss any specific regulations surrounding standing water. We're happy to help here as well.

Safety During Dewatering

Safety is vital during the dewatering process, both for practical and legal reasons. On the practical side, many construction sites will have to deal with hazards like heavy machinery and other equipment that can be quite dangerous for workers. This is especially true if workers are climbing ladders or operating this type of equipment in wet conditions.

It's also important to keep safety in mind from a legal standpoint, since you could face serious repercussions if your site doesn't comply with safety regulations. For example, if there are pools of water on your construction site and a worker falls into one of these pools, that could be considered an accident resulting from negligence.

As you can see, dewatering is an important and necessary part of most construction jobs. This is why at Silver Leaf SWPPP, we always work to provide comprehensive dewatering services, ensuring that your site will be safe and compliant with all applicable laws. With our help, you can get started on your project without worrying about excess water or other issues that could create safety risks for your workers and the community. Contact us today to learn more or set up a consultation for any of your stormwater management or related needs in Utah!