Water, Water Everywhere... and Mostly it Causes Trouble: The Role of Water in Ground Failures

Water has played a significant role in ground failures, such as the 1996 San Francisco Sea Cliff sewer failure. Construction attorneys who deal with issues related to the impact of water on soil and foundations will find this lecture educational with regard to understanding how these types of failures occur. Several construction litigation cases will be reviewed.

1. Introduction
2. Recent weather-related losses
   
   1. Damage to California roads and bridges estimated to be $275 to $300 million
3. What is a failure?
4. Major causes of ground failures
   
   1. Vulnerable ground conditions
   2. Changes to load equilibrium
   3. Inadequate drainage
   4. Water
5. Role of water in ground failures
   
   1. Adds weight & pressure
   2. Erodes & scours soil
   3. Changes properties of soil
6. What is a landslide?
7. What causes landslides?
   
   1. Driving force
   2. Resisting force
   3. Groundwater
8. Factors that affect slope stability
   
   1. Cutting or removing the toe
   2. Loading the head
   3. Adding water
   4. Seismic shaking
9. Sample landslide investigations
10. Erosion: a case history
    
    1. Claim
    2. Investigation
    3. Results
    4. Lessons learned
11. Lessons for risk managers
12. Conclusions