A research on the effect of treated grey water on workability and strength of plainconcrete

Abstract

Water from the kitchens, bathrooms, showers, tubs, and washing machines are referred as the grey water. Even though the grey water looks dirty, the treated grey water can be made useful in several beneficial purposes like irrigation and laundry purposes. The aim of this experimental study is to use the treated grey water in concrete making and to analyse its effects on the workability and strength aspects which can be utilized in concrete structures. The waste water samples were collected from the secondary treatment tank located in Kumaraguru College of Technology. The collected samples were analysed for various chemical parameters like pH, TSS, BOD, COD in the laboratory and tested for their suitability of use in concrete. The setting time of cement, workability, compressive strength have been tested for concrete casted using potable water and for the concrete casted using effluent from grey water treatment. The result from the various test of concrete confirms that the usage of secondary treated grey water in concrete increases both the workability and also the strength of the concrete when compared with the concrete casted using ordinary potable water. Since the treated grey water contains some organic matter in it, it is evident the decomposition of which causes corrosion of concrete if it is meshed with steel bars. The results from the test suggest that the treated grey water can be used only in case of plain cement concrete works.