School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa; Afrisam (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, P O Box 6367, Weltevreden Park 1715, South Africa
Ekolu, S.O., School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa; Dawneerangen, A., Afrisam (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, P O Box 6367, Weltevreden Park 1715, South Africa
A study was conducted into the quality of recycled water at a ready-mix concrete plant to determine its suitability as mixing water for concrete. Concrete mixes made at a water/ cementitious ratio (w/cm) of 0,5, with or without 50% ground granulated blast-furnace slag, and mortars of 0,47 w/cm were prepared using municipal and recycled water. Recycled water was used to replace municipal water at various proportions of 0, 30, 50 and 100%, then used as mix water. Tests were done on fresh and hardened concretes and mortars. The chemical impurities present in the recycled water satisfied the limits given in SANS 51008 /EN 1008 and ASTM C 94 for mix water. The use of recycled water as mix water led to a slight reduction in slump of concrete or flow of mortar. Hydration heat output and air permeability were not affected, and mortar compressive strengths increased with a rise in the proportional amount of recycled water used in the mix. In mortars, the use of 100% recycled water gave a substantial increase in strengths of up to 8%. Within the limitations of this study, it was found that recycled water from ready-mix concrete plants can be suitable for use as mix water in concrete-making.