Page 120 - AJWEP-v22i2

Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution. Vol. 22, No. 2 (2025), pp. 114-124.
doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025060033

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Utilization of treated wastewater from sewage treatment
plants as a replacement for potable water in concrete mix

Jitin Vasudeva , Mrunmyee Manjari Sahoo* , and Jaspreet Singh

School of Civil Engineering, Lovely Professional University, Kapurthala, Punjab, India
*Corresponding author: Mrunmyee Manjari Sahoo (Mrunmayee.23405@lpu.co.in)

Received: February 3, 2025; 1st revised: March 15, 2025; 2nd revised: March 22, 2025; Accepted: March 24, 2025;
Published Online: April 15, 2025

Abstract: With only 0.5% of Earth’s water being potable and increasing demand driven by urbanization and
construction, there is an urgent need to identify sustainable alternatives to freshwater for concrete production.
This study examines the use of purified sewage water from a 10 million liters-per-day sewage treatment plant at
Bambianwali, which employs sequential batch reactor technology, as a substitute for potable water in concrete
mixing. An extensive analysis was conducted over a 3-year period (2021 – 2023) to evaluate the suitability of
treated sewage water for concrete production. Water quality parameters analyzed included pH, temperature,
total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, fecal coliform, and total Kjeldahl
nitrogen. Plain cement concrete cubes were prepared and tested for compressive strength using three different
water mixtures: 100% potable water, a 60:40 mixture of primary treated wastewater and potable water, and a 60:40
mixture of secondary treated wastewater and potable water. After 28 days of curing, the concrete cubes prepared
with secondary treated wastewater in a ratio of 60:40 achieved a characteristic strength of 22.03 N/mm , compared
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to 23.96 N/mm for cubes made with 100% potable water. In contrast, cubes made with primary treated wastewater
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showed a reduced strength of 17.30 N/mm . These findings indicate that secondary treated sewage water can serve
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as a feasible substitute for potable water in concrete mixing, though the compressive strength of resulting concrete
may vary depending on the extent of treatment applied to the water.
Keywords: Sewage water; Concrete production; pH; Temperature; Total suspended solids; Chemical oxygen
demand; Biological oxygen demand; Fecal coliform

1. Introduction Over the past century, global water scarcity has
become a critical issue, driven by factors such as
The phrase “elixir of life” aptly describes water. overcrowding, urbanization, pollution, climate change,
Although water covers over 71% of the Earth’s surface, inadequate freshwater management, and environmental
only 3% of it is categorized as freshwater. Of this small degradation. In parallel, water plays an important role
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fraction, roughly 80% is locked in polar ice caps and in the production of cement-based materials, such as
remains inaccessible. As a result, only approximately paste, mortar, and concrete. Concrete is produced by
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0.5% of the Earth’s water is considered potable and safe combining water with inert ingredients (coarse and
for human consumption. 1 fine particles) and binding agents (Portland cement

Volume 22 Issue 2 (2025) 114 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025060033