Unintended Current Flow on Water Towers with 5G Antennas: Risks, Detection, and Mitigation (C2026-00266)

Anil Chikkam, mehrooz zamanzadeh, Michael Carone, Aaron Ulmer

As the telecommunication industry accelerates the deployment of fifth-generation mobile networks (5G), the installation of 5G equipment on existing metallic infrastructure—such as water towers—presents unique engineering and safety challenges. One growing concern is the emergence of stray currents resulting from the integration of power and communication systems onto these conductive structures.
A recent field evaluation of a water tower supporting 5G systems operated by Carrier 1 and Carrier 2 identified significant stray currents—measured at greater than 20 amps—on grounding conductors associated with tower legs closest to the transmission equipment. These elevated current levels raise concerns about personnel safety, potential shock hazards, and long-term deterioration of grounding systems due to electrical loading.
While immediate corrosion risks were not observed during the inspection, the presence of stray currents on structural components increases the likelihood of accelerated corrosion and introduces electrical safety risks to maintenance crews. This paper presents the field findings, highlights the potential causes of stray current pathways, and proposes mitigation strategies to reduce electrical exposure and improve the reliability of shared 5G infrastructure.