The dewatering process of Georgetown’s drainage project resumed this week — albeit very slowly — after nearly a 10-month delay.

The process of removing well water from under the ground so a retention pond can be built next to City Hall was stopped in November 2011 after sinkholes formed in the areas around where the project is taking place.

The water was being removed at 60,000 gallons an hour before the order to cease was given.

So far this week, the work has been much different.

South Carolina Department of Transportation officials say the water has been removed intermittently since Wednesday.

Sixteen water monitoring wells have been installed in different areas that will warn workers if there is a problem or if water levels drop too low. The work will stop immediately if the levels do drop lower than expected, the DOT says.

To prepare for the dewatering to resume, the well was sealed which, officials say, should prevent a repeat from what happened last year when sinkholes caused the collapse of one building and damaged others.