Water for ConstructionWater used for all construction works like masonry work, making concrete, mortar, bricks, or for other plain or reinforced general construction, should be clean and free from objectionable quantities of suspended materials, vegetables, or organic impurities like alkalis, salts, and other deleterious substances.
Because such deleterious materials cause efflorescence or are likely to interfere with setting of mortar or prove harmful to construction works. Clear and potable water is considered quite satisfactory for all purposes.
NOTE: In any case, salty water must not be used for construction works.
Deleterious Materials in WaterThe following considerations are assumed to rectify maximum permissible limits of deleterious materials in water.
1. Limits of Acidity
2. Limits of Alkali
3. Percentage of solids
Limits of Acidity To neutralize 200 ml of sample water, required caustic soda solution should not be more than 2 ml of 0.1 N. The details of its test are given in I.S. 3025-1964.
Limits of AlkaliTo neutralize 200 ml sample of water, required hydrochloric acid should not be more than 0.1 ml of 0.1 N. The details of its test are given in I.S. 3025-1964.
Percentage of solids The percentage of solids should not exceed the following limits when tested in accordance with I.S. 3025-1964
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Fine sand should consist of natural sand or crushed stone sand. It should be hard, durable, clean and be free from organic matter etc. and should not contain any appreciable amount of clay balls and harmful impurities such as alkalis, salts, coal, decayed vegetation etc.