Safeguarding Pump Stations: Ensuring Adequate Cathodic Protection with Advanced Monitoring Tools

In the water and wastewater industries, corrosion protection typically prioritizes water mains and related components, often overlooking critical infrastructure such as sewage pump stations. However, it is crucial to ensure that the carbon steel walls of pump station dry wells receive adequate cathodic protection (CP) and meet the minimum -850mV CP criterion. Acknowledging this need, the Ottawa County Sanitary Engineering Department proactively implemented impressed current CP systems across its pump stations, aiming for optimal performance and long-term asset protection. This paper demonstrates how the Ottawa County Sanitary Engineering Department further enhanced infrastructure reliability by conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the installed CP systems, beyond the initial contractor reports. While these reports provide initial verification, they do not ensure ongoing protection once the systems are operational. To bridge this gap, wireless sensors were deployed at the pump stations to continuously monitor real-time structure-to-soil potential data. These sensors are instrumental in swiftly identifying critical corrosion potentials, allowing for timely corrective actions. Additionally, the sensors' WebView feature facilitates efficient data analysis and visualization, enabling the department to monitor periods of inadequate protection. This strategic, proactive approach ensures the long-term structural integrity of pump stations, safeguarding critical assets and preventing costly failures.