Effects of Oil Contaminated Water on the Compressive Strength of Concrete

Clean water is a vital constitute in the production of concrete for construction, apart from cement, coarse aggregate and fine aggregate. But, when the water is contaminated, it may have affect the compressive strength of the concrete. In crude oil producing host communities, a condition known as "oil contamination" often occurs when spills of crude oil pollute waterways, making them unsuitable for use in the production of concrete. In several building projects in the Niger Delta Region, particularly in Amassoma, Bayelsa State, the contaminated water was frequently utilized. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of oil contamination on the compressive strength of concrete produced in the Niger Delta region in order to determine its acceptability for concrete manufacturing. After determining the physico-chemical characteristics of both treated and untreated water, the properties of the concrete that was produced were ascertained, including wet density and slump. The compressive strength after curing at 3, 7, 14, and 28 days were obtained. The findings indicated that both the treated and untreated water were acidic, but the untreated water had more iron (5.34 mg/L) than the treated water (0.53 mg/L). Concrete made with untreated water has a slightly higher compressive strength than concrete made with treated water. However, the concrete made from both fluids has compressive strengths greater than the 25 N/mm2 design strength. Furthermore, the new qualities were within acceptable bounds. We may conclude that oil pollution in the vicinity of Amassoma, Bayelsa State, enhances rather than decreases the compressive strength of concrete. This study suggests producing concrete in the same area using untreated water.