This article provides information on predesign surveys and the various testing procedures associated with wastewater treatment plants. These include soil testing, atmospheric testing, and hydrogen sulfide testing. The primary parameters that influence the production of sulfides within the piping system that transports the wastewater to the treatment facility are discussed. The article describes the corrosion performance of various materials in the soil, fluid, and atmospheric exposures. These include concrete, steel, ductile iron, aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel, and coatings used for wastewater facilities.

Weathering steels contain deliberate additions of alloying elements intended to increase the atmospheric corrosion resistance of steel. This article provides an overview of atmospheric corrosion testing. It describes the estimation of the atmospheric corrosion behavior of weathering steels by two methods such as short-term exposure tests and calculation of a corrosion index based on the steel composition. The article highlights some generalities about corrosion mechanisms. Based on the mechanism of atmospheric corrosion resistance of weathering steel, working rules for creating the protective oxide film have evolved. The article also provides case histories that illustrate both the violations of these rules and suggestions on how to avoid certain maintenance problems that may be encountered with weathering steels.

This article discusses the applications and use of salt spray (fog) testing used to test the resistance of aluminum alloys to exfoliation corrosion. There are two basic types of salt-spray/fog corrosion tests: static condition tests and cyclic condition tests. The article provides a discussion of these tests and indicates the significant differences in each type test used in the combination of weathering and corrosion testing procedures. It also provides information on the test specimen preparation for spray (fog) corrosion tests. Industry specific standards for test specimen procedures often reference the ASTM standards as a basis. The article includes various ASTM standards that describe several cleaning procedures used prior to testing. It describes the major components of a corrosion test chamber.