Utilization of Treated Wastewater in Concrete Production: A Sustainable Approach to Water Reuse in Construction

The growing scarcity of freshwater resources, as well as increased environmental pressures due to wastewater discharges, has highlighted the need for sustainable water reuse strategies in the construction industry. This study investigates the potential of substituting potable water with treated wastewater specifically secondary and tertiary effluents for concrete production. Comprehensive experimental testing was conducted to evaluate the effects of wastewater type on concrete properties, including setting times, workability (slump), compressive strength at ۷ and ۲۸ days, and flexural strength. Results revealed that secondary treated wastewater led to prolonged setting times and reduced workability due to elevated levels of suspended solids. In contrast, tertiary treated water not only preserved workability but in some cases enhanced it beyond that of control mixes. While compressive strength tended to decrease with secondary effluents, tertiary treatment mitigated this effect, restoring strength to levels comparable with potable water samples. Notably, flexural strength improved in all wastewater-based mixes, with the highest increase observed in concretes made with secondary effluent likely due to fine particulate matter enhancing internal microstructure. Regardless of flexural strength results, the findings overall support the viability of tertiary treated wastewater as a technically and environmentally acceptable alternative to potable water in concrete applications.

کلیدواژه ها:

Secondary Treated Wastewater ، Tertiary Treated Wastewater ، Recycled Water in Concrete