Municipalities and private operators both continue to drive strong investment in modernizing water infrastructure throughout 2025.
As builders in this unique industry know, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) face increasingly strict environmental and regulatory requirements, as well as evolving performance standards. More than ever the focus is on maximizing structural durability and service life, while always keeping a close eye on overall lifecycle cost.
Among the most critical challenges in WWTP design and construction is protecting reinforced concrete structures from moisture ingress and chemical corrosion. Concrete basins, headworks, digesters, tunnels, and below-grade infrastructure are continuously exposed to water, sulfates, chlorides, and other corrosive agents. Traditional waterproofing systems often fall short, especially where maintenance access is limited.
That’s why more and more design-build teams are turning to the integral waterproofing / corrosion protection technologies offered by Hycrete to meet the challenges of today’s WWTP construction projects.
See our previous article for a more technical overview: A Waterproof Concrete Solution Engineered for Wastewater Processing and Water Treatment Facilities
Integral Protection for Wastewater Treatment Facilities (WWTF)
Reinforced concrete in WWTPs is vulnerable to two persistent and related threats:
- Water Ingress – Concrete is porous by nature. Without effective waterproofing, moisture can easily penetrate deep into the matrix, accelerating deterioration. Modern WWTP facilities need uncompromising concrete waterproofing that reliably stands up to the rigors of their processing operations for years into the future.
- Steel Corrosion – Once moisture and chlorides reach the rebar, corrosion begins, leading to expansion, cracking, and structural compromise. This is especially problematic in WWTPs due to continuous exposure to waterborne chemicals and biogenic sulfides, which can accelerate steel corrosion. Learn more in our previous article: Understanding Reinforced Concrete Corrosion and Its Impact on Structural Integrity
However, traditional surface-applied membranes come with too many drawbacks to be truly effective in these high-cost, critical infrastructure projects. Mainly, membranes are vulnerable to both poor adhesion and mechanical damage. Thus any installation issues, as well as any surface damage that occurs over time, can completely compromise the waterproofing integrity.
- See our Hycrete vs. Membranes page for a rundown of hydrophobic admixtures compared to typical applied membranes. But to summarize – Hycrete can save you substantial costs (both upfront and in ongoing maintenance) while also providing much more reliable waterproofing and corrosion protection for the operational lifetime of the WWTP facility.
Preserving Critical Infrastructure from Water Ingress and Corrosion:
- Primary and Secondary Clarifiers – Submerged structures demand continuous moisture resistance.
- Sludge Holding Tanks – High exposure to sulfates and low pH conditions.
- Tunnels and Galleries – Hard-to-access areas in which membrane repair is infeasible.
- Digesters and Influent Channels – Harsh chemical exposure and long-term operation.
High-Performance Hydrophobic Admixtures Engineered for WWTP Projects
Hycrete is engineered for superior concrete waterproofing performance in the toughest conditions – from desalination plants to industrial wastewater processing. Our integral waterproofing and corrosion protection maximizes the structural lifetime as well as the ROI of new construction, all while helping builders reach the industry’s strict regulatory requirements.
