| Wastewater reuse presents a promising solution to the growing pressure on the world's water resources. Billions of gallons of wastewater effluent are discharged to rivers and lakes every year around the world while demand for potable water for residential, commercial, and industrial applications continues to increase. The use of municipal wastewater effluents for concrete production in the construction industry would result in energy and water savings leading to conservation and sustainability of our water resources. In this research, to promote and increase the reuse of wastewater in construction industry, both chemical and bacteria analyses were performed to ensure the recommended quality for concrete mixing water and the compressive strength of concrete specimens made with wastewater effluents was investigated and compared to specimens made with fresh water. The chemicals of concern in mixing water for concrete production were tested and found to be within the established maximum limits. Concrete specimens made with wastewater effluents, wastewater effluents treated with oxone for bacteria, and wastewater effluents treated with potassium permanganate for bacteria were tested for compressive strength and compared to the control specimens that were made with fresh water. The strength results of all test specimens were relatively close to those of control specimens. Statistical analysis of the strength results showed that at 95 percent confidence interval, the compressive strengths of the control specimens and those of test specimens are not statistically different. The results in this research show that wastewater effluents provide a low-energy source of unlimited mixing water for concrete production. The use of municipal wastewater effluents would save billions of fresh water that is otherwise used for concrete production nationwide, and this research shows that municipal effluents can be safely used for roadway concrete pavement. |
