Sustainable Use of Wastewater in Concrete Production

Concrete production is a major consumer of freshwater resources and generates significant volumes of process water laden with cementitious fines, admixtures and suspended solids. Sustainable use of wastewater in concrete involves recovering, treating and reusing water from industrial wash-out, domestic effluents or alternative non-potable sources in mixing and curing operations. The approach reduces demand for potable water, minimises effluent discharge and conserves energy and chemical inputs associated with water treatment. Key factors include characterising the chemical and physical properties of wastewater streams, selecting appropriate treatment technologies (such as sedimentation, filtration, biochemical treatment and neutralisation) and optimising mix designs to maintain workability, strength and durability. Recent advances have demonstrated that up to 75 % replacement of freshwater is achievable with treated effluents, provided admixture regimes are adjusted to address changes in pH, solids content and ionic composition. Beyond technical feasibility, life-cycle analyses highlight reduced carbon footprints, cost savings and regulatory incentives as drivers for industry uptake. Remaining challenges centre on standardising quality thresholds, ensuring large-scale implementation and integrating wastewater reuse within circular construction frameworks.

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Sustainable Use of Wastewater in Concrete Production publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in sustainable use of wastewater in concrete production across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Non-potable water: Water unsuitable for human consumption but acceptable for industrial processes after treatment.

Compressive strength: The maximum axial load per unit area that hardened concrete can bear without failure, measured in megapascals (MPa).

Curing: The process of maintaining moisture and temperature conditions after placing concrete to ensure proper hydration and strength development.

Superplasticiser: A high-range water-reducing chemical admixture that improves workability without increasing water content.

Microstructure: The internal arrangement of pores and hydration products within hardened concrete, influencing mechanical and durability properties.

References

1. Past, current, and future re-use of recycled non-potable water sources in concrete applications to reduce freshwater consumption- a review. Cleaner Materials (2023).
2. A Comprehensive Review on the Use of Wastewater in the Manufacturing of Concrete: Fostering Sustainability through Recycling. Recycling (2024).
3. Properties of concrete using water from the Padma River and the Shitalakshya River, Bangladesh. Smart Construction and Sustainable Cities (2024).
4. Waste Wash-Water Recycling in Ready Mix Concrete Plants. Environments (2020).
5. Influence of Wastewater Content on Mechanical Properties, Microstructure, and Durability of Concrete. Buildings (2022).