Soft water leaching – damage to water infrastructure from an unexpected source

Abstract

Concrete plays a critical role in water infrastructure, since it does not normally undergo reactions with either water or air. However, where water is very pure (‘soft’), and fast flowing – as is the case in Scotland – constituents in concrete can dissolve at an accelerated rate, leading to a loss of strength, vulnerability to erosion, and possible corrosion of steel reinforcement. This seminar looks at the process itself, how it can be limited, issues relating to environmental sustainability, and what is still currently not fully understood about this problem.

Please contact [email protected] if you wish to join online.