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Water found acceptable for mixing concrete is also suitable for curing.
All things hydro in construction
By Kim Kemp
Water has a variety of uses in construction and demolition, from putting structures up, to assisting in bringing them down again.
A main ingredient on any construction site, simply using available water to mix concrete could be the downfall— literally— of the structure. While water remains a vital ingredient in construction, ignoring water quality can have disastrous results. Required for preparing mortar, mixing of cement concrete, and for curing work during construction work, it is the quality and the quantity of water that affect the strength of mortar and concrete. Not any old water can be used for mixing and curing. It must be clean and free of alkalis, acid, oils, salt, sugar, organic materials, vegetable growth, and other substances that may be harmful to bricks, stone, concrete, or steel. Also, the pH value of water should be not less than six.
There are instances, however, where, despite using the best-quality material, such as cement, coarse sand, and coarse aggregate in concrete making, the desired results are not achieved. This is because there are several common impurities in water that affect the quality of mortar or concrete. Water containing impurities such as the presence of salt, calcium chloride,
20- CEC May 2018