REUSING TREATED EFFLUENT IN CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY

Jurnal Teknologi, 34(F) Jun 2001: 110

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

REUSING TREATED EFFLUENT IN CONCRETE

TECHNOLOGY
OOI SOON LEE1, MOHD RAZMAN SALIM2, MOHAMMAD ISMAIL3 &
MD. IMTIAJ ALI4
Abstract. In this paper, the feasibility of using treated effluent for concrete mixing was studied.
Treated effluent from sewage treatment plants in Malaysia is currently being wasted through direct
discharge into waterways. With proper water quality control, this treated effluent can also be
considered as a potential water resource for specific applications. Two tests were carried out namely
compressive strength test and setting time to determine the feasibility of using treated effluent for
concrete mixing. The results were compared against the tests conducted on control specimens
which used potable water. The results showed that treated effluent increases the compressive
strength and setting time when compared with potable water.
Key words: treated effluent, mixing water, compressive strength, setting time, concrete technology.

1.0

INTRODUCTION

Sewage water originates mainly from domestic sources and comprises 99.9% water
and 0.1% organic and inorganic solids in settleable, suspended, and soluble forms.
Untreated sewage is a hazard to both public health and to the environment. Therefore, sewage water is treated in a sewage treatment plant before discharging into an
inland waterway. Industrial and trade wastes in Malaysia are treated separately by
on-site industrial waste treatment plants [1]. By the end of 1997, Indah Water
Konsortium (IWK) was given the responsibility of maintaining a total of 4,539 sewage treatment plants with a population of 7,416,486 [2]. Table 1 shows the sewerage
systems managed by IWK from 1994-1997. Currently, the treated effluent from sewage treatment plants is flowed directly into waterways. With proper water quality
control, this treated effluent can also be considered as a potential water resource for
specific applications.
The application of reusing treated effluent from sewage treatment plant in agricultural sector and industry has been carried out successfully in developed countries
[35]. Therefore, the focus of this study is to consider the applicability of reusing the
treated effluent in concrete technology since some non-potable water are found to
be suitable as the concrete mixing water [6]. This paper presents the results of a
laboratory study using treated effluent as mixing water for concrete.
1,2,3&4

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Darul
Takzim, Malaysia.

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803
2,266
1,232

Perak

Selangor

Kuala Lumpur

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100
40

Pahang

Terengganu
180

--

16

40

38

42

29

--

Network
Pump
Stations

4,539

175

176

390

440

435

14

177

1,250

660

394

413

15

STPs

736,797

18,409

59,760

150,211

33,055

29,993

3,120

36,670

94,289

184,810

4,886

110,592

11,002

Septic
Tanks

+Population using septic tanks is assumed to be five times the number of septic tanks.

7,052

344

Johor

Total

234

Melaka

466

1,372

Pulau Pinang

N. Sembilan

170

Kedah

23

Perlis

Labuan

Network
Pipelines
(km)

State

7,416,486

35,950

106,925

364,168

251,917

492,083

24,446

1,308,424

2,372,137

844,855

1,427,422

185,434

2,725

Population
ServedConnected
to STPs

3,683,985

92,045

298,800

751,055

165,275

149,965

15,600

183,350

471,445

924,050

24,430

552,960

55,010

Population
ServedSeptic Tanks+

Table 1 Details of sewerage systems operated and maintained by IWK as at December, 1997 [2]

11,100,471

127,995

405,725

1,115,223

417,192

642,048

40,046

1,491,774

2,843,582

1,768,905

1,451,852

738,394

57,735

Total
Population
Served

2
OOI SOON LEE, MOHD RAZMAN SALIM, MOHAMMAD ISMAIL & MD. IMTIAJ ALI

REUSING TREATED EFFLUENT IN CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY

2.0 MIXING WATER

Generally, any natural water that is drinkable and has no pronounced taste or odour
is considered suitable for the use as mixing water in producing concrete [7]. The
quality of the mixing water plays a significant role in the concrete. Impurities contained in the mixing water may interfere with the setting time of the cement, may
affect drying shrinkage, durability, and may also lead to corrosion of the reinforcement. For this reason, the suitability of water for mixing and curing purposes should
be considered important [8].
In the similar study conducted by Cebeci and Saatci [9], the results (setting time,
mortar, and concrete strength test) showed that biologically treated average domestic sewage is indistinguishable from distilled water when used as mixing water. In
1992, Ghazaly and Ng [10] reported that rain water, river water, and treated domestic sewage are suitable for use with cement but not for the case of raw domestic
sewage.
In the light of the present knowledge, it is not possible to issue a specification for
water in producing concrete but only for the methods of testing such water [11]. BS
3148 [11] has outlined two methods by which questionable water may be tested in
respect of its suitability for producing concrete. The initial setting time of the cement
paste made with the questionable water must not differ by more than 30 minutes of
the initial setting time of control paste. Also, the average compressive strength of the
concrete cubes made with questionable water shall not less than 90% of the average
strength of the control cubes. Cubes shall be tested 28 days after preparation except
in the case of concrete cubes with high alumina cement which shall be tested 24
hours after preparation.
3.0

EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMME

3.1

Materials Used

A Seladangs Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) which complied to MS 522: Part 1

[12] was used in preparing the concrete specimens. The chemical analysis and physical
properties of OPC is given in Table 2. Washed river sand (with 49% managed to
pass through the 600 m sieve and natural gravel of maximum size 20 mm were
used in this study. Potable water from the public water supply system and treated
effluent from a sewage treatment plant (waste stabilisation pond) in Taman Sri Pulai,
Skudai were ued or mixing water. The quantity collected was about two hundred
liters and were stored in a clean plastic container.
3.2

Mix Design and Specimen Preparation

Concrete cubes were designed according to the Department of Environment (DOE)

Methods, United Kingdom [13]. Concrete cubes with mix design of Grade 30 (G30)

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OOI SOON LEE, MOHD RAZMAN SALIM, MOHAMMAD ISMAIL & MD. IMTIAJ ALI

Table 2

Chemical analysis and physical properties of OPC

Chemical analysis

Percentage

Silicon dioxide (SiO2)

Aluminium oxide (Al2O3)
Ferric oxide (Fe2O3)
Calcium oxide (CaO)
Magnesium oxide (MgO)
Sulphur trioxide (SO3)
Sodium oxide (Na2O)
Potassium oxide (K2O)
Loss on ignition (LOI)

20.20
5.70
3.00
62.50
2.60
1.80
0.16
0.87
2.70

Physical properties
Fineness specific surface are (m2/kg)
Soundness LeChatelier method (mm)
Specific gravity

314
1
3.28

Source: Tenggara Cement Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd.

and Grade 35 (G35) that based on same workability were cast using treated effluent.
Potable water was used in concrete cubes as the control specimens. Details of the
mix proportions are given in Table 3.
The test cubes were cast in 150 mm cast-iron moulds. The concrete was mixed
using pan mixer and fresh concrete was filled in the mould in three layers which was
compacted using vibrating table. The cube moulds were stored in a place free of
vibration and direct sunlight for 24 hours. At the end of this period, the mould was
removed and the cubes were cured in potable water until the age of testing.
Table 3 Mix proportion of concrete cubes
Mix Proportions (kg/m3)

Design Strength
(N/mm2)

Water

OPC

G30
G35

190
190

350
375

3.3

Aggregate
Fine
Coarse
730
1160
730
1140

W/C Ratio
0.54
0.51

Testing

A small portion of the treated effluent was retained for physical and chemical analysis. The characteristic of treated effluent and potable water were analysed according
to the methods described in the Standard Methods [14]. Heavy metals were analysed
using Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer while cations and anions were analysed
by Spectrophotometer DR4000. The cubes were tested for their compressive strength

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REUSING TREATED EFFLUENT IN CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY

after curing periods of 7, 28, and 90 days for both G30 and G35. The TONIPACK
3000 was used to determine the compressive strength of concrete cubes with a loading rate at 7.0 kN/s. The strength of the cube was taken as the average of three cube
specimens.
For setting times, a cement paste was made with treated effluent and the ordinary
Portland cement. The test was carried out in accordance with BS4550 Part 3: Section
3.5 and Section 3.6 [1516]. The procedure also involved preliminary determination
of the amount of mixing water required to produce a cement paste of standard
consistence. Potable water was used as a control paste.
4.0

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The physical and chemical properties of the treated effluent and potable water are
shown in Table 4. The treated effluent was slightly turbid (35 NTU) and faint yellowish-brown in colour. The total alkalinity, total hardness, sodium, and chloride
concentration are relatively higher compared to potable water. However, the concentration of the constituents of treated effluent were well within the respective tolerable limits from various researcher, as shown in Table 4.
Table 4
Parameter

Characteristics of treated effluent and potable water

Unit

pH
Total solid
Total suspended solid
Total alkalinity

mg/l
mg/l
mg/l as
CaCO3
mg/l
mgl
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l

Sulfate, SO42
Chloride, CI
Lead, Pb
Copper, Cu
Manganese, Mn
Zinc, Zn
Calcium, Ca
Magnesium, Mg
Sodium, Na
Ferum, Fe
Nitrate, NO32

Concentration
TE
7.48
89.5
17

PW
7.41

Tolerable
Limits
6.08.0
2000
2000

62

20

1000

10.49
11.98
N.D.
0.0817
0.124
0.0460
46.00
6.9
29.033
0.490
2.1

11.06
7.58
N.D.
0.0743
0.045
0.0378
0.17
2.2
1.317
0.153
2.9

1000
500
500

2000
(include
sulfate
and
chloride)

Note: TE : Treated Effluent; PW : Potable Water

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References
McCoy [17]
White [7]
Mindness and
Young [18]
Neville [8]
BS3148 [11]
BS3148 [11]
Mindness
and Young
[18]

BS3148 [11]

OOI SOON LEE, MOHD RAZMAN SALIM, MOHAMMAD ISMAIL & MD. IMTIAJ ALI

Table 5 summarizes the result of compressive strength for the cubes mixed with
different mixing water. The cubes were tested on the 7th, 28th, and 90th day. The
compressive strength of cube mixed with treated effluent at 7-day was 26.22 N/mm2
compared to 24.46 N/mm2 of potable water. Similarly at 28-day, treated effluent
was 37.17 N/mm2 and 90-day was 41.24 N/mm2 compared to 33.20 N/mm2 and
38.27 N/mm2 of potable water, respectively.
Table 5 Compressive strength with different mixing water
Compressive Strength (N/mm2)
Grade
(N/mm2)

Age
(Day)

Mixing water
Potable water (fc) Treated effluent (ft)

Percentage of
increasing (%)

30

7
28
90

24.46
33.20
38.27

26.22
37.17
41.24

7.20
11.96
7.76

35

7
28
90

27.54
38.41
43.56

28.52
41.88
45.16

3.56
9.03
3.67

Meanwhile, the same observation was found for concrete cube G35. At curing
age of 7-day, treated effluent (28.52 N/mm2) was found to be slightly higher than
control specimen (27.54 N/mm2). The strength pattern for curing age of 28-day and
90-day were also similar as before, i.e. the strengths of treated effluent were higher
than the strengths of potable water.
Overall, a higher strength was obtained from specimens mixed with treated effluent than from control specimens. The increase is between 7.2 12.0% for G30 and
3.6 9.0% for G35 respectively. Higher compressive strength of concrete made with
a reclaimed wastewater as compored to concrete mixed with potable water was also
reported by Tay and Ng [19].
Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the development of compressive strengths for concrete cubes G30 and G35 at different ages respectively. All the graphs have similar
pattern shapes, that is, an increase in compressive strength was observed with an
increase of age. The results of overall compressive strength tests are found to be
consistent with the achieved design strength and the requirement stated in the BS
3148: 1980 [11]. The treated effluent seems to increase the compressive strength of
the concrete cubes compared to the control for both grades. The percentages of
increase in strength for treated effluent concrete cubes compared to the control
concrete cube are shown in Figure 3. The pattern of strength increase was almost
similar in both mixes. After 28 days of curing, the strength increase in concrete cube
cast with treated effluent was about 1.2 times than the control cubes for G30. The

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REUSING TREATED EFFLUENT IN CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY

Compresive strength (N/mm2)

45
40
35
30
25

Potable
water
Potable water

20

Treated
effluent
Treated effluent

15
10
5
0

28
Age (day)

90

Figure 1 Compressive strength of concrete G30

Compressive strength (n/mm2)

50
45
40
35
30
25

Potable
Water
Poteble water

20

Treated
Treated Effluent
Effluent

15
10
5

Percentage of strength
increasing (%)

7
7

28
28
Age (day)

90
90

Figure 2 Compressive strength of concrete G35

14
12
10

G30

8
6

G35
Control

4
2
0
0

20

40

60

80

100

Age (days)

Figure 3 The percentage of strength increasing of concrete cube

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OOI SOON LEE, MOHD RAZMAN SALIM, MOHAMMAD ISMAIL & MD. IMTIAJ ALI

data for G35 also indicated a trend similar to that of G30, except that the strength
increase in cube G30 was slightly higher than the cube of G35.
The increased in that was observed in this study may due to the higher concentration of sodium and calcium salt of chloride in treated effluent, compared to potable
water. Mindess and Young [18] reports that sodium chloride and calcium chloride
may increase early strength but reduce ultimate strength. Calcium chloride increases
the rate of heat liberation during the first few hours after mixing and acts as catalyst
in the reaction of hydration of C3S and C2S [8].
The results of setting time test are shown in Table 6. Initial and final setting times
are slightly higher for treated effluent paste compared to the control paste. This
probably due to the impurities in treated effluent such as zinc and copper salts
which varies in setting time process. Other salts that react actively as retarders include sodium iodate, sodium phosphate, sodium arsenate, and sodium borate [7].
The requirement of BS3148: 1980 for ordinary Portland cement stated that the
initial setting time should not be less than 75 minutes. The setting time for cement
paste mixed with treated effluent is well within the requirement of the standards.
Table 6 Setting time
Type of water

5.0

Water content (%)

Setting time (min)

Initial

Final

Potable water

32

145

165

Treated effluent

32

155

170

CONCLUSIONS

From the results of this study, the properties of treated effluent used in this study
were found to be within the tolerable limits from the various researchers. Higher
compressive strength was achieved for concrete cube with treated effluent compared to the concrete cube with potable water. The initial and final setting times of
cement paste mixed with treated effluent increase compared with potable water.
The result obtained from this study indicates that treated effluent could be used as
mixing water in concrete in accordance with BS3184.
REFERENCES
[1]
[2]
[3]

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Indah Water Konsortium Sdn. Bhd., 1999. Developing A Modern & Efficient Sewerage System for Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur: Indah Water Konsortium Sdn. Bhd.
Malaysia, Ministry of Housing and Local Government. 1997. Sewerage Services Report 1996 1997.
Kuala Lumpur: Sewerage Services Department.
Maeda, M., et al. 1996. Area-wide Use of Reclaimed Water in Tokyo, Japan. Wat. Sci. Tech. 33(10-11):
51 57.

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REUSING TREATED EFFLUENT IN CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY

[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]

[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]
[19]

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Mamlouk, M. S., and J. P. Zaniewski. 1999. Materials for Civil and Construction Engineers. California:
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Neville, A. M. 1995. Properties of Concrete. Fourth and Final Edition. England: Addison Wesley Longman.
Cebeci, O. Z. and A. M. Saatci. 1989. Domestic Sewage as Mixing Water in Concrete. ACI Materials
Journal. Sept.-Oct., 503 506.
Md Ghazaly Shaaban dan Ng, Lay Keong. 1993. Effect of Impurities in Mixing Waters on Cement/
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British Standards Institution. 1980. Water for Making Concrete. BS3148. London: Bristish Standard Institution.
Department of Standards Malaysia. 1989. Standard Specification. MS522: Part1. Shah Alam: Dept. of
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Department of the Environmental. 1988. Design of Normal Concrete Mixes. Watford, U.K.: Building Research Establishment.
APHA. 1992. Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater. New York: American Public-Health Association/American Water Works Association/Water Environment Federation.
British Standards Institution. 1991. Determination of Standard Consistence. BS4550: Part3: Section3.5. London: British Standard Institution.
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McCoy, W. J. 1978. Mixing and Curing Water for Concrete. ASTM Sp. Tech. Publ. 169B: 765 773.
Mindness, S., and J. F. Young. 1981. Concrete. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
Tay Joo Hwa, and Yi p Woon Kwong. 1987. Use of Reclaimed Wastewater for Concrete Mixing. Journal
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