Originally inaugurated in September 2023, the El Cuchillo II Aqueduct in the northern Méxican state of Nuevo León officially reopened in June 2024 after the completion of additional construction work. The aqueduct now provides a reliable supply of drinking water to the Monterrey metropolitan area, one of the country’s most dynamic urban centers. PENETRON ADMIX, a crystalline waterproofing admixture, was specified to protect all of the aqueduct's concrete structures from high hydrostatic pressure and aggressive groundwater environments.
An important industrial and business center in northern México and a base for many global corporations, Monterrey is an important link to the world economy and one of the country’s most attractive and livable cities. It is México’s second largest city (after México City) and center of the Monterrey metropolitan area, which has an estimated population of around 5.4 million people. Juárez, a city of over 300,000, is located in the eastern part of the Monterrey metropolitan area.
Spanning a length of 93 km (58 miles) from the Pumping Station Zero at the El Cuchillo Dam in China, Nuevo León, the El Cuchillo II Aqueduct transports water to the San Roque Water Treatment Plant in Juárez, which supplies drinking water to the Monterrey metropolitan area.
Buried at a depth of 22 m (73 ft) with a diameter of 2.13 m (7 ft), the first 5 meters of the aqueduct are covered by a reinforced concrete slab, eliminating the need for floating pumps to extract water when the reservoir level is low. The aqueduct comprises five plants (each with six pumps) located at intervals of 20-25 kilometers and transports 5,000 liters (1,320 gallons) of water per second.
“The El Cuchillo project required a robust concrete waterproofing solution to counter the high hydrostatic pressure and exposure to aggressive groundwater environments along its 93-kilometer length,” explains Rodrigo Monterrubio Solis, Country Manager, Penetron México. “In addition, the project specifications noted a durability design that would last for 50 years.”
CEMEX México, the ready-mix concrete supplier for the aqueduct, specified PENETRON ADMIX, a crystalline waterproofing admixture for all concrete structures. PENEBAR SW-55 swellable waterstop strips were also installed along the construction joints to ensure permanent seals that could resist the high hydrostatic pressure.
Once mixed into the concrete, the proprietary chemicals in PENETRON ADMIX react with moisture and concrete minerals to form insoluble crystals throughout the entire concrete matrix. The insoluble crystals forming within the cracks and voids of the concrete matrix reduce concrete permeability, long-term drying shrinkage cracking, and seal microcracks. The admixture’s self-healing abilities to seal hairline cracks last over the required service life of the aqueduct’s concrete structures.
“With a specified minimum service life of 50+ years, the self-healing ability means the Penetron-treated concrete is virtually maintenance-free, which will minimize future maintenance and repair costs for the El Cuchillo Aqueduct,” adds Rodrigo Monterrubio Solis.
Waterproofed with Penetron: With a diameter of 2.13 m (7-feet), the El Cuchillo aqueduct comprises five pumping stations and transports 5,000 liters (1,320 gallons) of water per second.
Treated with PENETRON ADMIX: The El Cuchillo aqueduct required a robust concrete waterproofing solution due to high hydrostatic pressure and exposure to high groundwater levels along its 93-km length.
