Types of water in soils: properties, how to lower and raise the level
Groundwater is a liquid that accumulates in the upper structures of the soil. Its presence on the site can force a person to abandon the construction of capital buildings, since it spoils any work and provokes the destruction of structures. Therefore, it is so important to determine the presence of water and the depth of their occurrence. There are many types of water in soils. They are classified according to different criteria.
Types of groundwater
The sources of groundwater formation include precipitation - rain or snow. Also, the cause of their accumulation is considered to be the condensate of water vapor, which forms in the soil.
The depth of groundwater is affected by the terrain and the presence of water bodies near the site. In marshy places and in lowlands, groundwater is located almost near the very surface of the earth - 1-2 meters. Sometimes this interval is only a few centimeters.
Today, quite a lot of types of groundwater are known. They are classified according to various criteria. In order to properly carry out planting work and erect various structures on the site, it is necessary to determine the type of water.
By location
According to the placement of water in the earth, the following varieties are distinguished:
- stratified - located in loose or poorly cemented rocks;
- porous - located in the pores of the rock;
- fractured - localized in cracks in well-cemented rocks.
A characteristic property of groundwater is its easy accessibility. Therefore, you can use simple ways to access free water - for example, dig wells.
Aggressiveness
This term is understood as the ability of water to destroy metal and concrete structures or structures made of other materials. Also, this parameter evaluates the ability of water to influence the flora and fauna of reservoirs. Aggressiveness is affected by the presence of certain chemical compounds.
Depending on the variety and quantity, the following types of substances are distinguished:
- General acid. pH is used as an indicator of acidity. The most aggressive is water, the pH of which is less than 4. This indicates that the environment is acidic. At the same time, water with a pH value of more than 6.5 is considered the least aggressive.If the indicator is up to 6.5, they talk about total acidity.
- Leaching. They are characterized by a large amount of bicarbonates in the composition - more than 0.4-1.5 milligrams. These substances remove calcium hydroxide from concrete structures.
- Sulfate. They contain a lot of sulfate ions. They provoke concrete swelling and destroy the material.
- Carbon dioxide. They contain a lot of carbon dioxide, which leads to the dissolution of calcium bicarbonate. Also, the substance can provoke the destruction of concrete structures.
By mineralization
This parameter determines the volume of compounds that are dissolved in water. It is evaluated by evaporating 1 liter of water, which allows you to get a dry residue. Its magnitude and composition help set the mineralization parameters.
According to this indicator, water in the pores of the soil can have the following varieties:
- fresh;
- sulfate;
- slightly s alty;
- s alty.
By hardness
This parameter is determined by the presence of magnesium and calcium ions in the water. There are the following types of hardness:
- total;
- carbonate;
- non-carbonate.
There is also an additional classification according to the overall hardness. Water can be very soft, soft, moderately hard, or hard.
By pollution level
Ground water becomes contaminated when harmful elements are filtered from the surface. At the same time, the following types of pollution sources are distinguished:
- industrial sites where elements capable of migrating with groundwater are used;
- storage areas for industrial products and their waste;
- zones of accumulation of household waste;
- fields irrigating agricultural products.
Pesticide storage areas are especially dangerous, including prohibited areas. Also included in this category are oil producing and oil refineries.
How to understand that on the site - perched water or groundwater?
Verkhovodka is understood as temporary accumulations of precipitation in the upper part of the soil. They are above groundwater. This is usually observed after rains or snow melt. In this case, moisture is mainly concentrated above the soil, which does not conduct water well - clay, dense rocks, loam. Subsequently, one part of the top water evaporates, and the other part enters the underlying structures.
The following features are typical for perched water:
- Low power and minimal water area.
- The presence of clay or loam on the site - perched water does not accumulate in the sand.
- Explicit connection with seasonal factors - there is no perched water in winter and summer. This phenomenon is typical for spring and autumn.
- Relationship with climate humidity parameters. Verkhovodka is typical for the wet period. At the same time, it disappears in dry time.
The thickness of the top layer is usually small. It does not exceed 0.5-1 meters. In rare cases, this parameter reaches 3-5 meters. Moisture, as a rule, accumulates in the steppe regions and in the lowlands. There is no perch in the mountains, because the water just flows down.
Rising or lowering the water level
The level of groundwater can be from 2 to 30 meters. Its high placement provokes waterlogging of the soil, worsens the conditions for crop growth, and quickly destroys underground structures.
There are such methods of lowering the groundwater level:
- site drainage;
- digging up a pond.
The standard drainage scheme involves the construction of a ditch around the perimeter of the site. At the same time, it is required to lay pipes made of plastic or asbestos cement in it. The ditch is then filled with sand, earth and gravel.
Artificially raising the groundwater level is usually not required. However, if such a need nevertheless arises, reservoirs are being built.
Ground waters are classified according to various criteria. This allows you to determine their characteristics and correctly build various structures on the site.
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