Relief Well Systems for Dams and Levees

Excessive seepage and sand boils occur frequently during high water where dams or levees are underlain by strata of pervious sands and gravels. This paper presents the results of an investigation in which sand models were used to study: (1) The phenomena of underseepage; (2) the use of pressure relief wells as a means of controlling underseepage and sand boils along the lower Mississippi River levees; (3) the operation of relief wells; (4) well and seepage flows; and (5) landward substratum pressures with and without relief wells in operation, for various foundations, seepage entrances, and top strata. The conditions studied were those considered to represent qualitatively conditions commonly encountered in the lower Mississippi River valley.