Ground Subsidence Following Groundwater Drawdown by Excavating of 500 m Deep Investigation Shafts in Granite Body in Mizunami, Central Japan in 2004-2012

Abstract

Two 500 m deep investigation shafts were excavating in the granite body in Mizunami, central Japan by JAEA (Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute) in 2004-2012. Groundwater with volume of 700 m 3 was generally pumping a day to prevent the shafts from submerging in 2012 following the excavating. As a result of pumping the groundwater, the ground water level lowered to 60 m in the borehole with the distance of 200 m from the excavating shafts in 2012. Leveling network extending 2 km × 2 km around the shafts was established to detect the vertical deformation around the shafts in 2004, and precise leveling was done every year. An 18 mm ground subsidence was detected in the benchmark close to the shafts for 8 years in 2004-2012, and time series of subsidence at benchmark was consistent with the groundwater drawdown. The groundwater drawdown and ground subsidence were caused by the pumping ground water in excavating shafts.