Quality Assessment of Concrete Utilizing Harvested Rainwater, Stormwater and Conventional Water

Abstract

Preserving and conserving freshwater resources has become increasingly crucial with the growing global population. In the present study, the viability of replacing freshwater in the manufacturing of concrete with other sources, such as potable water (PW), harvested rainwater (HRW), stormwater (SW), and borehole well water (BW), was investigated. The investigation adhered to applicable standards, analyzing the physical and chemical properties of these water sources. The fresh concrete properties, including setting time and workability, were scrutinized, and the mechanical properties were evaluated through compressive, split tensile, and flexural strength tests at 7, 28, and 90 days. Durability was evaluated through examinations such as the Volhard assay to measure chloride content at 90 and 150 days and the rapid chloride permeability test (RCPT) for 90 days. The results indicated that the water quality from all sources met the recommended standards for concrete. There were no notable variations in the mechanical characteristics when compared to those of standard concrete. RCPT exhibited high durability concerning chloride ion penetration, with all the tested mixes exhibiting low chloride content (below 0.2%). This emphasizes how crucial it is to use a variety of durability tests. Saving resources and protecting the environment may be aided by using non potable water sources such as harvested rainwater and stormwater in place of freshwater.