A review of guidelines for dewatering design within the Abu Dhabi Municipality-Paper

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The paper presents guidelines developed for the Abu Dhabi Municipality (ADM) to improve the planning, design, permitting, and monitoring of construction dewatering. The guidance is intended for engineers, contractors, consultants, and independent reviewers, with particular emphasis on preventing ground subsidence and collapse.<br /><br />Dewatering lowers groundwater levels and changes porewater pressure and effective soil stress. It can also alter groundwater chemistry and dissolve soluble materials. These effects may cause erosion, piping, settlement, slope instability, heave, or collapse of subsurface cavities, potentially damaging nearby structures. Abu Dhabi is especially vulnerable because its varied sediments and rocks include loose, permeable deposits, gypsum and other soluble minerals, and areas with cavities or fractured rock. Intensive pumping can create steep hydraulic gradients and remove fine particles, increasing these hazards.<br /><br />The guidelines set requirements for geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations, dewatering design, and monitoring. Requirements are scaled according to hazard zone, excavation depth, proximity to sensitive structures, and project conditions. They review methods including open pumping, predrainage systems such as wellpoints and wells, groundwater cutoffs, and exclusion. Open pumping is generally discouraged in urban areas and must be carefully restricted because it can trigger piping and material loss.<br /><br />Dewatering permit applications are reviewed by ADM, with design documents independently checked by an ADM-qualified third-party consultant. Construction may begin only after approval; contractors and consultants remain responsible for potential damage and must comply with monitoring and inspection requirements. The guidelines include example permit packages for shallow, intermediate, and deep dewatering projects. They are intended as a living document, to be updated as further data and local experience become available.

Keywords

construction dewatering

groundwater lowering

Abu Dhabi Municipality

geotechnical investigation

hydrogeological investigation

ground subsidence

piping and erosion

dewatering permits

monitoring requirements

slope instability