Groundwater control, or hydraulic control, is crucial in various fields such as construction, mining, and environmental remediation. If groundwater control is the goal, then removing more water from the ground in less time is the means to achieve that goal. Horizontal wells can be precisely installed within the target subsurface zones to provide maximum hydraulic control so that other associated work can continue on schedule.

Groundwater control refers to the means and methods used to manage and manipulate the water present in the subsurface to mitigate issues like flooding, soil instability, and the migration of contaminants in the groundwater. Though they are synonymous in many ways, groundwater control differs from typical dewatering applications in a few distinct ways. Dewatering is often used in construction projects or work involving the installation of conduits, such as sewer mains. Groundwater control, or hydraulic control, can be applied in many applications, often relating to environmental-based projects.

For environmental purposes, hydraulic control wells are used to manage groundwater and address contamination. In a vertical setting, dozens of wells may be installed in a line to intercept the migration of contaminated groundwater. Often times, this strategy is used to prevent the contamination from mobilizing off-site into more sensitive areas, such as residential neighborhoods or wetlands. These vertical systems, however, rely on communication between the wells to create a sound hydraulic barrier.