What Is A Water Table In Construction?
What Is A Water Table In Construction?
A water table in construction is a boundary between the unsaturated zone and the saturated zone underground. It forms where the subsurface soil, sediment, and rock have the highest saturation of water and is defined as being below atmospheric pressure, meaning it is filled with groundwater.
Any water above this line is referred to as surface water while any water underneath it is classified as groundwater. Water tables can vary depending on factors such as weather, geology, and local regulation.
The height of a water table typically changes seasonally (being higher in wet seasons/areas and lower in drier areas/seasons). In construction projects, understanding the depth of a water table becomes essential for a proper site assessment to ensure adequate drainage or other measures are employed.
What Is The Difference Between The Water Table And The Water Level?
The water table is the uppermost subterranean surface below which the groundwater is present in the saturated zone. It is essentially a groundwater divide, as it separates groundwater stored in the unsaturated zone from that stored in the saturated zone of rocks and sediments.
On the other hand, the water level is simply the current height of liquid in a lake, river, aquifer, or storage tank at any given point.
It may refer to both above-ground and underground sources of water and can change over time due to factors such as precipitation rates, evaporation rates, snowmelt, or changes in pumping levels.
Overall, while the water table reflects a distinct depth beneath which all soil pores and fractures are saturated by groundwater flow; the Water Level indicates only the current height of liquid at any given point.
What Is A Water Table Example?
Water Table Examples are aquifers, such as the Ogallala aquifer in the United States of America, the Great Artesian Basin in Australia, and the Lotikipi Basin Aquifer in Kenya; all of which can be used to supply surface water resources with an underground source.
Aquifers are important sources of liquids needed for drinking water, irrigation, industry, and natural environments.
What Controls The Water Table?
The water table is a part of the hydrological cycle which is affected by meteorological factors such as temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity.
Recharge processes add water to the groundwater while evapotranspiration absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, resulting in an equilibrium between the surface water, air, and groundwater.
Generally, during periods of higher rainfall or temperatures, more surface water is available to infiltrate and recharge the aquifer.
On the other hand, when there is less rainfall or colder temperatures, evapotranspiration increases leading to lower water tables and groundwater levels.
In summary, meteorological factors play a crucial role in controlling water table levels through different processes like recharge and evapotranspiration.
What Happens When The Water Table Is High?
When a water table is too high, excessive moisture can cause a range of problems in the home. This includes increased humidity levels which can lead to wood rot, mold growth, and rust in wooden structures.
As well as this, it increases the risk of structural damage caused by shifting foundations and settling.
Basement flooding may also occur due to rainwater or surface runoff pouring into having nowhere else for it to go. High water tables can therefore cause serious damage to a property and its occupants if not managed correctly.
