Use of alternate water sources in construction operations

Due to population growth, construction and periodic drought, water has become a precious commodity, especially for areas in the state that receive very little rainfall. One way to reduce the demand for drinking water is to substitute non-drinking quality water in construction applications. Primary benefits of this approach include: reducing the demand for the drinking quality water; reducing construction costs, and decreasing construction delays if water rationing is imposed on drinking water supplies.

The objective of this project was to identify usable alternative water sources for construction applications. To achieve this objective, alternative water supplies were identified and characterized for quality, availability, and price. Additionally, each proposed water source was evaluated to determine if there are any adverse health concerns or environmental impact from its reuse. Potential impact from the use of low quality water on constractability, material behavior and performance were also evaluated.

The primary product of this research was a decision matrix that allows TXDOT engineers to evaluate an alternate water source (e.g., reclaimed water and brine water) for construction applications like dust control and compaction in various soil types. In addition, readily accessible computer database that TxDOT engineers can use to determine allowable applications of each identified water source as well as information concerning location and contact information for each source was developed.