The Basics of Deteriorating Concrete at Wastewater Plants: Tips On
astewater treatment plants are among the harshest of environments for high-per- formance protective coat- ings. In a wastewater facil- ity, there is never only one cause for a structure to degrade; there are numer- ous causes, and because Wof the multiple causes, once a structure starts to degrade, it does so rapidly. This article gives a basic introduction to, and review of, the chemical and other aggressive exposures within wastewater facilities; how the exposures can cause degradation of a structure; how to diag- nose a corrosion or deterioration problem; The Basics of Deteriorating how to repair the structure; and how to prevent corrosion from recurring. The arti- Concrete at Wastewater Plants: cle will use an example of a wastewater clarifying tank made of hydrated Portland By Heather Bayne, SSPC cement concrete to illustrate the above. Tips on Causes, Repair, and Resources Corrosive Environments Assets,” October 2006, pp. 50–63; sulfate ions, forming sulfide ions, which in Wastewater Treatment Tanks and G. Hall,JPCL, “Out of Sight, Out of Mind, are released back into the wastewater. Wastewater clarifying treatment tanks and Often Out of Order,” October Through chemical reactions in the waste- need to be protected and maintained 2004, pp. 40–48.) JPCL, water system, the sulfide ions combine because their environment exposes with hydrogen to form hydrogen sulfide, them, on a daily basis, to chemical which further reacts and forms hydro- attack, abrasion erosion, chloride ion- SewageChemical in Attack a wastewater storage tank gen sulfide gas. The gas reduces the induced corrosion, and freeze-thaw con- must receive chemical treatment, biologi- pH of the concrete.
[Show full text]