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Environmental Technology Verification Report: Grouts for Wastewater Collection Systems, Separation Systems Consultants Inc., GST3 Grout
Citation:
Center for Innovative Grouting Materials and Technology (CIGMAT), RTI International, AND NSF International. Environmental Technology Verification Report: Grouts for Wastewater Collection Systems, Separation Systems Consultants Inc., GST3 Grout. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-12/583, 2014.
Impact/Purpose:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Office of Research and Development, funded and managed the research described herein under Task Order (TO) 61, Field Verification of Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems Assessment and Rehabilitation Technologies, of Contract No. EP-C-05-060, with RTI International. The testing was performed by the Center for Innovative Grouting Materials and Technology (CIGMAT); NSF International provided quality assurance and other technical support. This document has been reviewed by RTI, NSF, and EPA and is recommended for public release.
Description:
Municipalities are discovering rapid degradation of infrastructures in wastewater collection and treatment facilities due to infiltration of leaking water from the surrounding environments. Rehabilitation of these facilities by in situ methods, including the use of grouting, is used to return structures to their original working conditions. Grouting is the most widely used leak-control method in small to large wastewater treatment plants and other collection systems. Application of grouts to leaking joints is considered a challenge, and performance must be evaluated using model tests representing close to actual field conditions. The grout used for repairs must be durable enough to withstand the effect of the severe physical and chemical environmental conditions to which it will be subjected to during the service life. This verification evaluated Separation Systems Consultants, Inc.’s (SSCI’s) supplied GST #3 grout under laboratory conditions at the Center for Innovative Grouting Materials and Technology (CIGMAT) Laboratories at the University of Houston. Testing was conducted on the grout and a grouted substrate over a period of 6 months to evaluate the grout’s performance under various simulated physical and chemical environments. Grout was characterized based on setting time, unit weight, and leaching of organics in water by performing a series of tests. The grout behavior was characterized based on the unit weight, water absorption, shrinkage, permeability, compressive strength, wet-dry cycle, and chemical resistance tests. The compressive strength of grout was determined for a period up to one month of curing time. Testing also included evaluation of the bonding strength between the grout and concrete substrate specimens. Finally, two model tests were performed to determine the effectiveness of the grout in reducing leakage in cracked concrete.