Quality Control of Soil-Cement Construction for Water Resources

The uses of soil-cement in the water resources applications have broadened over the past years. Still one construction related task has remained essentially the same: quality control. Soil-cement is a highly compacted mixture of soil; usually sand, portland cement, and water. It has the properties of a low-strength concrete. Without adequate controls on the quality of the materials and construction methods, the performance of the project may not meet expectations. A successful soil-cement project begins with the development of a quality control program with the responsibilities of each party clearly defined. The quality control plan should address submittals which must receive approval from the project engineer; mixture proportioning considerations; minimum requirements for equipment such as the mixing plant, compactors, and curing equipment; types and frequencies of material testing; and acceptance criteria for construction procedures and individual material tests. Quality control practices during construction do not have to negatively impact the contractor's production. Each member of the project team, from the laborer to the project manager, can be aware and trained in their responsibilities to ensure a quality product. The benefits of having everyone on the project buy into and execute their responsibilities will minimize any rework and ensure that the performance criteria will be met or exceeded.