Water is a major problem on many construction sites and mines which can threaten the structural integrity of the project if not dealt with immediately. Luckily a solution has been widely adopted across the world: dewatering pumps. These dewatering pumps are incredible at moving vast amounts of water through tough terrain to a safe disposal site. Their job is very hard, however, which means that most people expect these dewatering pumps to have a short working life. This simply is not the case, and with a little bit of tender loving care, you can keep your dewatering pumps going for years.
Dewatering Pumps Are Not All The Same
This phrase bears repeating because often you can get quite comfortable with the idea of using your portable dewatering pump for jobs that are frankly far too big for it to handle. This can also be said of electric submersible pumps that are used for projects far above their paygrade. Always ensure that your dewatering pumps are rated for the job you want, and if they are not, then do not use them or they will be liable to break. Always check your dewatering pumps capacity, its ability to sift through sand or gravel, and its overall power.
Routine Check At The End Of Every Day
You always want to be proactive when it comes to expensive machines, and dewatering pumps are no exception. There are many hoses, switches, vents, electric outputs and more on every pump. If just one of these systems malfunctions, it can lead to a machine-wide collapse in the near future if not fixed. A routine check should be done after the machine is completely drained and dried up. Test the mechanical aspects to see if they still move smoothly and without resistance. Ensure no objects are blocking the flow. It is good to have at least one dewatering pump expert on-site to perform these and to run the machines while in use. Often, construction crews will have someone who is more proficient in this area so that not everyone has to learn, and this experience is very valuable to employers.
Check The pH Level
The pH level of the water you are moving can wreak havoc on dewatering pumps not rated to perform at certain levels. If the water is too acidic from minerals in the ground or runoff from your construction equipment, it can seriously slow down and even break your dewatering pumps. Not only that, but a highly acidic pH level can be quite dangerous for your workers and should warrant special attention. If the level is higher and you have no known explanation for it, then work should immediately be shut down while the origin of the spike in pH is located and remedied for the dewatering pumps' sake as well as for your much more fragile workers.
