Abstract
The overall performance and durability of concrete are significantly influenced by the quality of water. The strength of the concrete is mostly influenced by the pH of the mixing water, which also affects the hydration process of the cement. This study investigates how different pH levels of water affect the compressive strength of concrete. Three types of mixing water were prepared with pH values of 3.64, 6.90, and 10.21 by adding controlled amounts of acidic or basic solutions. These water samples were used to cast eighteen cylindrical concrete specimens (100 mm in diameter and 200 mm in height) for each pH level. The specimens were tested for compressive strength at 7, 21, and 28 days of curing. Results showed that the pH of the mixing water had minimal influence on the 7-day compressive strength, but a noticeable difference appeared at later ages. Compared to normal water (pH 6.90), concrete prepared with acidic water exhibited about a 5% reduction in strength, while alkaline water improved strength by approximately 12%. The findings suggest that concrete performs better in an alkaline environment due to favorable cement hydration conditions.

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1. Dutta C, Rakib M, Hossain A, Rashid M. Effect of mixing water pH on concrete. 2020 [cited 2025 Nov 12]. Available from: https://iccesd.kuet.ac.bd/2020/Papers/STE-pdf.
2. Chandio NMA, Shaikh NS, Chandio NWM. The effect of different water sources on the quality of concrete for infrastructure projects. Kashf J Multidiscip Res. 2024;1(10):27–36.
3. Varshney H, Khan RA, Khan IK. Sustainable use of different wastewater in concrete construction: A review. J Build Eng. 2021;41:102411.
4. Miller SA, Horvath A, Monteiro PJM. Impacts of booming concrete production on water resources worldwide. Nat Sustain. 2018;1(1):69–76.
5. Yao W, Guo B, Yang Z, Yang X, Guo Y, Zhao F, et al. Research on curing water demand of cementing material system based on hydration characteristics. Materials. 2021 Nov 22;14(22):7098.
6. Kokoszka W. Impact of water quality on concrete mix and hardened concrete parameters. Civ Environ Eng Rep. 2019;29(3):174–182.
7. Mohe NS, Shewalul YW, Agon EC. Experimental investigation on mechanical properties of concrete using different sources of water for mixing and curing concrete. Case Stud Constr Mater. 2022;16:e00959.
8. Çomak B. Effects of use of alkaline mixing waters on engineering properties of cement mortars. Eur J Environ Civ Eng. 2016;22(6):736–754.
9. Kucche KJ, Jamkar SS, Sadgir PA. Quality of water for making concrete: A review of literature. Int J Sci Res Publ. 2015;5(1):1–10.
10. Sobhnamayan F, Sahebi S, Alborzi A, Ghorbani S, Shojaee NS. Effect of different pH values on the compressive strength of calcium-enriched mixture cement. 2014 [cited 2014 Dec 24]. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4293576/.
11. ASTM International. C33/C33M-24. Standard specification for concrete aggregates. West Conshohocken (PA): ASTM International; 2024.

Abstract
The overall performance and durability of concrete are significantly influenced by the quality of water. The strength of the concrete is mostly influenced by the pH of the mixing water, which also affects the hydration process of the cement. This study investigates how different pH levels of water affect the compressive strength of concrete. Three types of mixing water were prepared with pH values of 3.64, 6.90, and 10.21 by adding controlled amounts of acidic or basic solutions. These water samples were used to cast eighteen cylindrical concrete specimens (100 mm in diameter and 200 mm in height) for each pH level. The specimens were tested for compressive strength at 7, 21, and 28 days of curing. Results showed that the pH of the mixing water had minimal influence on the 7-day compressive strength, but a noticeable difference appeared at later ages. Compared to normal water (pH 6.90), concrete prepared with acidic water exhibited about a 5% reduction in strength, while alkaline water improved strength by approximately 12%. The findings suggest that concrete performs better in an alkaline environment due to favorable cement hydration conditions.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Dutta C, Rakib M, Hossain A, Rashid M. Effect of mixing water pH on concrete. 2020 [cited 2025 Nov 12]. Available from: https://iccesd.kuet.ac.bd/2020/Papers/STE-pdf.
2. Chandio NMA, Shaikh NS, Chandio NWM. The effect of different water sources on the quality of concrete for infrastructure projects. Kashf J Multidiscip Res. 2024;1(10):27–36.
3. Varshney H, Khan RA, Khan IK. Sustainable use of different wastewater in concrete construction: A review. J Build Eng. 2021;41:102411.
4. Miller SA, Horvath A, Monteiro PJM. Impacts of booming concrete production on water resources worldwide. Nat Sustain. 2018;1(1):69–76.
5. Yao W, Guo B, Yang Z, Yang X, Guo Y, Zhao F, et al. Research on curing water demand of cementing material system based on hydration characteristics. Materials. 2021 Nov 22;14(22):7098.
6. Kokoszka W. Impact of water quality on concrete mix and hardened concrete parameters. Civ Environ Eng Rep. 2019;29(3):174–182.
7. Mohe NS, Shewalul YW, Agon EC. Experimental investigation on mechanical properties of concrete using different sources of water for mixing and curing concrete. Case Stud Constr Mater. 2022;16:e00959.
8. Çomak B. Effects of use of alkaline mixing waters on engineering properties of cement mortars. Eur J Environ Civ Eng. 2016;22(6):736–754.
9. Kucche KJ, Jamkar SS, Sadgir PA. Quality of water for making concrete: A review of literature. Int J Sci Res Publ. 2015;5(1):1–10.
10. Sobhnamayan F, Sahebi S, Alborzi A, Ghorbani S, Shojaee NS. Effect of different pH values on the compressive strength of calcium-enriched mixture cement. 2014 [cited 2014 Dec 24]. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4293576/.
11. ASTM International. C33/C33M-24. Standard specification for concrete aggregates. West Conshohocken (PA): ASTM International; 2024.