Quality of Water for Concrete

Construction and its Specification

 Water (IS 456:2000)

• Water used for mixing and curing shall be clean and

free from injurious amounts of oils, acids, alkalis,
salts, sugar, organic materials or other substances
that may be deleterious to concrete or steel.
• Potable water is generally considered satisfactory for
mixing concrete.
• In case of doubt regarding development of strength. The suitability of

water for making concrete shall be ascertained by the compressive

strength and initial setting time tests.

• The initial setting time of test block made with the appropriate cement

and the water proposed to be used shall not be less than 30 min and

shall not differ by ±30min from the initial setting time of control test

block prepared with the same cement and distilled water.

• Average 28 days compressive strength of at least three 150 mm

concrete cubes prepared with water proposed to be used shall not be

less than 90 percent of the average of strength of three similar concrete

cubes prepared with distilled water.

• The sample of water taken for testing shall represent the
water proposed to be used for concreting, due account
being paid to seasonal variation. The sample shall not
receive any treatment before testing other than that
envisaged in the regular supply of water proposed for
use in concrete. The sample shall be stored in a clean
container previously rinsed out with similar water.
 Clause 3.1.1 of IS 3025
Water Quality Tests for Concrete Construction

• pH value test

• Limits of acidity test

• Limits of alkalinity test

• Percentage of solids
– Chlorides

– Suspended matter

– Sulphates

– Inorganic solids

– Organic solids
• Number of tests for each source shall be three.

• The pH value of water shall be not less than 6.

• Limits of acidity: To neutralize 100ml sample of water, using

phenolphthalein as an indicator, it should not require more than 5ml

of 0.02 normal NaOH. The details of test shall be as given in IS 3025

• Limits of alkalinity: To neutralize 100ml sample of water, using mixed

indicator, it should not require more than 25ml of 0.02 normal H 2SO4.

The details of tests shall be as given in IS 3025

• Percentage of solids: Maximum permissible limits of solids when

tested in accordance with IS 3025 shall be as under:

• Sea water shall not be used for mixing or curing.
• Mixing or curing of concrete with sea water is not
recommended because of Presence of harmful salts in sea
water. Under unavoidable Circumstances sea water may be
used for mixing or curing in plain concrete with no embedded
steel after having given due consideration to possible
disadvantage and precautions including use of appropriate
cement system.
 Sea water

• Use sulfate-resistant cement for marine

applications
• May aggravate ASR
• May cause efflorescence and dampness
 Effects of Impurities
 Alkali Carbonate and Bicarbonate

• Sodium carbonate – rapid setting

• Bicarbonates – accelerate or retard setting

• May aggravate AAR

 Chloride

• Corrosion of reinforcing steel or prestressing

 Sulfate

• May aggravate sulfate attack

 Miscellaneous Inorganic Salts

• Manganese, tin, zinc, copper, lead – strength reduction,

setting time fluctuation

• Sodium iodate, phosphate, arsenate, borate – retard

setting

• Acids may cause handling problems

• High concentrations of alkaline waters may reduce strength

• Alkaline waters may aggravate AAR

• Industrial Wastewater:- Strength reduction
usually 10%-15%