A valve or sensor malfunctioned or was incorrectly placed. The challenge to multiple UST owners lies in keeping trained site staff due to traditionally high job turnover. Regulators will ask for these during routine inspections. Station managers can spend hours trying to track down the problem as well as a lot of money on precision tank and line testing only to find out that there was no problem. The EPA requires that cathodic protection systems be certified within three to six months after installation and every three years thereafter.
Some states require annual certifications of cathodic protection systems.
In addition, impressed current systems require a 60-day rectifier test to ensure the equipment is running properly. Conversely, stricter guidelines have been implemented and, as the result, new markets may be opening up when Stage II equipment will be required. Leak confirmation tests may be required to resolve system alarms. Once these options are exhausted, a precision test may be required. This can be done from a remote location if the facility is equipped with site fax capabilities.