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The protective anodes of a cathodic protection well usually corrode away with time. Thus a cathodic protection well's anodes determine the well's useful life. Anodes are usually designed to last 15 to 20 years. There has been an increasing tendency to construct cathodic protection wells with large diameter vent pipe or casing so that anodes can be replaced through the casing. Anode replacement through casing eliminates the need to drill replacement wells when anodes have been expended. Corrosion Coordinating Committees Serious electrical interference problems can occur where cathodic protection networks criss-cross one another or are too close to one another. Also, stray currents produced from.electrical transmission lines and other equipment can sometimes interfere with the operation of cathodic protection systems. Interference problems are usually most pronounced in urban areas. Corrosion control coordinating organizations have been formed in areas of California to overcome system interferences and other problems. Most organizations are affiliated with or are chapters of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers. Corrosion control organizations represent the majority of utilities and other groups that install cathodic protection devices,including cathodic protection wells. Organization members coordinate the installation and operation of cathodic protection facilities with the goal of minimizing problems of electrical interference. Four organizations that deal with Central and Southern California, are: • Southern California The Southern California Cathodic Protection Committee is a formal committee covering all of Southern ` California south of San Luis Obispo, Kern, and Inyo counties, except San Diego County. • San Diego County The San Diego County Underground Corrosion Control Committee is an informal organization that deals with the San Diego area. • Central California The Central California Cathodic Protection Committee is a formal committee covering all of Central California plus Sacramento Valley counties,and western Sierra Nevada mountain counties south of Plumas County. • San Francisco Bay Area The activities of the two committees that formerly covered the San Francisco Bay Area have been assumed by the San Francisco Section of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers. The committees were disbanded in 1985. No coordinating organizations function in coastal counties north of San Francisco or in the northeastern part of the State. Unfortunately,not all who install and operate cathodic protection facilities work with a corrosion coordinating organization. Those not associated with an organization are usually individuals or local agencies that are sometimes unaware of the existence of other installations. Non-coordinated facilities can seriously interfere with one another electrically. -62-