Title: Concrete Q & A: Verifying Well Water Quality

Author(s): R. Douglas Hooton and Colin Lobo

Publication: Concrete International

Volume: 32

Issue: 5

Appears on pages(s): 71-72

Keywords:

DOI:

Date: 5/1/2010

Abstract:
I’m a civil engineer with an energy development company. One of our projects in Colorado will require a concrete batch plant in a remote area. We are considering using well water for the mixtures, but we know the water is not potable. According to ACI 318-08, Section 3.4.2,1 “Mixing water for prestressed concrete or for concrete that will contain aluminum embedments, including that portion of mixing water contributed in the form of free moisture on aggregates, shall not contain deleterious amounts of chloride ion. See 4.3.1.” Section 4.3.1 discusses water-soluble chloride ion content in concrete mixtures, and Table 4.3.1 shows the maximum water-soluble chloride ion contents in hardened concrete. It further states that when testing is performed to determine the water-soluble chloride ion content, the test procedure shall conform to ASTM C1218, “Standard Test Method for Water-Soluble Chloride in Mortar and Concrete,” but that test is run on concrete at an age between 28 and 42 days. How do we analyze the well water to ensure that minerals and ion contents don’t exceed the prescribed levels? What is normally acceptable?