Cathodic protection is essential for mitigating metal pipe corrosion. The existing literature on the failure patterns of pipes under cathodic protection primarily concentrates on failures that have occurred within a laboratory setting over a one-year period. There have been no efforts to understand the long-term failure behaviors of pipes equipped with cathodic protection in real-life conditions. This study addressed this knowledge gap by examining the initial ten-year failure trends among 170 pipes equipped with cathodic protection. A mix of pipes that are in aggressive and non-aggressive environments and installed during a 20-year period from 1955 to 1974 was chosen explicitly from a large-scale municipality in Ontario, Canada. The results illustrated a normal distribution pattern of failures in the initial years, followed by a steady increase in the failure rate for cathodically protected pipes in both aggressive and non-aggressive environments. The bell-shaped normal distribution pattern can be attributed to hydrogen embrittlement and the formation of calcareous deposits within the cathodically protected pipes. Hydrogen embrittlement leads to an increased occurrence of pipe failures in the early years, while over time, the prevalence of calcareous formation becomes more pronounced, contributing to a decline in pipe failures. The steady growth in failure in the latter years is mainly due to the worn-off anodes. This study supports ISO 55000 recommendations for data-driven asset management and provides insights into the operational performance of potable water supply systems.