The Watermain Cathodic Protection Program, provided cathodic protection to aging metallic watermains by exposing the watermain and welding on a zinc anode, which increases service life by preventing rust on metallic watermains.
The program, which was in place from 2017 to 2024, applied cathodic protection to all ductile iron mains that were not otherwise proposed for replacement in other capital projects, and that fall within the recommended age (40 years or younger) to maximize the benefit of cathodic protection. Installation of cathodic protection is expected to increase the life of ductile iron watermains by up to 15 years. With the work on the 2024 road segments complete, all of the City's watermains that fit the required criteria are deemed protected, bringing the program to a close.
Project Updates
November 13, 2024
The City and its contractor, Global Cathodic Protection Inc., have completed works on the 2024 roads.
2024 Impacted Roads
- Anne Street North
- Argyle Road
- Beacon Road
- Big Bay Point Road
- Birchshire Drive
- Burton Avenue/Yonge Street
- Chares Court/Fitzroy Terrace
- City of Barrie Transit Corridor
- Collier Street
- Coulter Street
- Deerpark Drive
- Dodson Road
- Edgehill Drive
- Ellen Street
- Evergreen Court
- Fraser Court
- Golfdale Road
- Huronia Road
- Johnson Street
- Loggers Run
- Meadow Lane
- Melinda Crescent
- Mollard Court
- Partridge Road
- Pheasant Trail
- Quail Crescent
- Sawmill Road
- Shadowood Road
- Welham Road
About the Installation
Cathodic protection is installed approximately 10m along the existing watermains by:
- Excavating 450mm diameter holes and exposing the existing watermain
- Welding sacrificial anodes to the existing watermain, and
- Backfilling the excavations
The excavations are opened and backfilled within the same working day. The anodes are 700mm long by 200mm diameter cylinders. The contractor may lay the anodes at each installation location each morning at the beginning of their working day.
All excavations are restored to existing or better condition.
About Cathodic Protection
The City of Barrie has approximately 177,700 m of ductile iron watermain, which represents nearly 30% of the City's water distribution network. Watermains made of this type of material are prone to corrosion-related physical failure. Ductile iron watermains are more prone to corrosion than non-iron pipes.
This results in damage to the pipe surface, including pitting, scaling, and other depressions, which eventually leads to cracks, holes and other physical failures, as well as watermain breaks. This type of damage substantially reduces the maximum potential life of these watermains, resulting in increased operational and emergency repair costs as well as service disruptions.
Cathodic protection involves installing sacrificial anodes connected to ductile iron watermains. The attached anodes will corrode rather than the watermain to which they are attached, thereby extending the life of the watermain.