Chapter 9: Water in concrete

Water is a very important ingredient in the manufacture of concrete. It is mainly used to impart workability to concrete and to hydrate the cementitious components. Water also has a significant role in almost all mechanisms of deterioration of concrete, by acting as a carrier for the transport of aggressive agents into the concrete and being involved directly in many forms of deterioration. That is, water which contributes to the creation of concrete is also, to a large extent, responsible for its destruction. Therefore, an understanding of the role of water in concrete is essential for choosing suitable mix proportions and ensuring durability. In this chapter, the role of water and various damages caused by it are briefly discussed. The appropriate standards are introduced to highlight tolerable concentrations of impurities in mixing water in concrete. As there is a scarcity of water in many parts of the world, a brief discussion on the use of seawater in concrete is also given in this chapter.