Water for Construction

-
Water is an important element for life. It is required in almost every process and operation. In construction quality of water plays  an important role, either it is used in concrete or cement mortar or curing. Many times we have seen that in spite of using best material in cement, required results are not achieved. Most of us think that there is something wrong in cement, but we do not consider quality of water being used.


Using bad quality water in construction  may result to:

 a) Loosening of  wall
b) Reduction in compressive strength 
c) Dampness persistently
d) Surface efflorescence
e) Corrosion in steel bars

 As per IS:456-2000 standards there are listed some checks/tests which one should perform before using the water for construction purposes:

1) pH: The pH values of water shall generally be not less than 6 and not more than 8.

 2) Acidity Limit: It should not require more than 5ml of 0.02 normal NaOH to neutralize 100ml sample of water, using phenolphthalein as an indicator.

 3) Alkalinity limit: It should not require more than 25ml of 0.02 normal H2SO4 to neutralize 100ml sample of water, using mixed indicator.

 4) Permissible limit for solids: The maximum permissible limits for solids are given below: 
Types of solids
Limits
Organic solids
200 mg/liter
Inorganic solids
3000 mg/liter
Sulphates
400 mg/liter
Chlorides
2000 mg/liter for concrete not containing embedded steel, and
500 mg/liter for reinforced concrete work
Suspended matter
2000 mg/liter

5) Water should not contain any organic material.

 The water that do not conform IS:456-2000 standards is not recommended to be used in construction. Therefore it is recommended to test your water quality before building your dream house.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

7 Amazing Facts You Didn't Know About Biodiversity of India

-
Image
Each year, 22 May is celebrated as world biodiversity day. Biodiversity holds ecological and economic significance. It provides us with nourishment, housing, fuel, clothing and several other resources. It also extracts monetary benefits through tourism.  India is one of the recognized mega-diverse countries in the world. Here are the 7 amazing facts that you must know about the biodiversity of India.
Read more

Know Your Soil Type : Irrigation Guide

-
Image
Soil is the primary reservoir for plants from where they intake water though roots for their growth and development. Based on the particle size distribution, typically the soil is divided into the three main categories; sand, clay and loam. Each type of soil handles water differently and have different water holding capacity. Sandy soil needs more frequent irrigation than the loamy soil as the sandy soil has less water holding capacity means it can hold less water than the loamy soil.    Image Credits: DripWorks Knowing your soil type helps you in the irrigation scheduling and determining the right amount of watering needs. Here are some quick tests to help determine your soil type. TEST 1: The Bottle Test Put 5 cm of soil in a glass bottle and fill it with water Stir the water and soil well, let it sit for an hour. At the end of an hour, the water will have cleared and you will see that the larger particles have settled. At the bottom is a layer of sand, in the middle is a la...
Read more

Here's What Happens to the Sewage on a Cruise Ship

-
Image
On average, a passenger on the cruise ship uses 200-250 litre water per day. A lot of sewage is generated due to the thousands of people on board every day.  But have you ever wondered where does the sewage on a cruise ship go?  The sewage on the cruise ship includes the wastewater from the bathrooms, toilets, urinals, medical premises and other similar facilities. When it comes to handling, treatment and disposal of sewage on the ship. It must be done as per the international maritime laws. MARPOL- Annex IV is an international regulation which prohibits any vessels or offshore platforms from direct disposal of sewage into the sea. According to this regulation, the sewage can be discharged into the seawater only after it is treated and the distance of the ship is 4 nautical miles from the nearest land.  But if the sewage is not treated this can be discharged 12 nautical miles away from the nearest land. Additionally, the discharged sewage should not produc...
Read more