You may have received a pamphlet from the City of Ottawa regarding the installation of cathodic protection anodes in your area. Why is this being done and will your neighbourhood be affected?
The City of Ottawa’s Water Services completes preventative water main maintenance to ensure the continued efficient delivery of safe drinking water to your community. Cathodic protection is a process that involves attaching a series of magnesium rods (or “anodes”) to the outside of a metallic water main or water service to provide corrosion protection to the water main.
With age, metal pipes corrode and eventually break. Cathodic protection helps prevent this process by transferring the corrosion from the outside of the water main to a “sacrificial” anode.
How is it done?
Work crews drill a series of 30 cm (1 foot) diameter holes on City property and insert magnesium (sacrificial) anodes beneath the ground. The anodes are connected together by a wire which is attached to your water service.
Will cathodic protection be added to all water mains?
No. Cathodic protection is for metallic pipes. Today, most water mains are made from PVC.
How will this work impact residents?
- There will be noise associated with the work.
- The installation process takes minutes and holes are refilled the same day.
- Traffic and pedestrian impacts are minimal.
- Work is done on the outside of the pipe, so water quality and pressure are not affected.
To learn more and see the Planned Work for 2024, please visit the City of Ottawa website.