Abstract: How to estimate the settlement caused by pressure-relief of confined water has been a research focus in the academic and engineering fields. During the process of pumping confined water, the drop of hydraulic head leads to the decrease of uplift force, and produces extra stress on overlaying soil, resulting in the settlement of the ground. As the permeability coefficient is very small, the roof of the confined aquifer is supposed to be impermeable. By calculating steady flow of fully penetrated well of confined water, the additional force acting on the overlaying soil, which is caused by pressure-relief of confined water, is studied. Above all, the effects of some parameters on the settlement are studied, such as the thickness, modulus of the overlaying soil, head difference and transmissibility of the confined aquifer. Through an example, the settlement of the ground caused by decompression of confined water is small and agrees with the actual one.