Online corrosion monitoring is essential for extending the service life of buried water pipelines and optimizing maintenance strategies. Electrical Resistance (ER) probes, although widely used in oil and gas pipelines, remain uncommon in water main applications. This study evaluates the capability of ER probes to monitor corrosion in Granular A aggregates, a standard cover and backfill material for water pipes. Laboratory experiments were conducted in an environmental chamber under field-simulated conditions, including 95% compaction, controlled moisture, and 12-hour temperature cycles. Corrosion was monitored over a 30-day period using both ER probes and C1010 mild steel weight-loss coupons, allowing direct comparison of continuous electronic readings with conventional mass-loss measurements. To better understand the corrosion environment, soil and leachate water were analyzed using ICP and ion chromatography to identify major ion concentrations (Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, S²⁻, NH₄⁺, Ca²⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe, and total S). Results showed strong agreement between ER-probe metal loss and coupon data, demonstrating the potential of ER probes as a reliable, non-intrusive tool for continuous corrosion monitoring in water infrastructure.
