How often should the anodes be inspected in a cathodic protected water storage tank?

• A. Annually
• B. Monthly
• C. Biannually
• D. Every 5 years

Answer: (A)

Anodes in a cathodic protection system wear away as they supply protective current, so they must be checked regularly to ensure the tank remains protected. For a cathodic protected water storage tank, inspecting the anodes annually is the standard practice. This interval allows you to verify there’s still enough anode material to meet design protection, check that connections and mounting hardware are intact, and assess the overall condition of the anode bed and surrounding coatings. If any anodes are significantly consumed or connections show corrosion, you can plan replacements before protection levels drop. Monthly checks are more frequent than needed for typical wear rates, while biannual or multi-year intervals risk losing protection or missing early signs of degradation. Therefore, annual inspection is the appropriate interval.