Q. Settlement due to Lowering of Water Table?

Water table is encountered with, whenever any excavations are made for foundations. The water is to be out for working conditions. The lowering of water table affects the structures founded in the vicinity. The effective stress on the subsoil increases, due to ground water lowering. This causes extra settlement of the nearby structure. Lowering of water table in clayey soil results in large settlement. In the case of sandy soils, the effect of lowering of water table on settlement is rather small.