Grounding can be very confusing but it really is not. A ground rod is not for clearing faults on under 600 volt systems. even a 480 sustem (480/25=19.2) is not likely to clear a fault very quickly.
The grounding electrodes larger than #6 almost always go to the water service entrance and/of building steel.
The ground rod also is for lightning disapation not disapation of an electrical circuit's electron flow. While electricity takes ALL availble paths, the most current will flow on the path of least resistance. Some current will flow from a ground rod back thru the earth to the next closest grounding means ( a water pipe , another ground rod of the POCO ground on a pole). The amount of this current flow will be small in relation to the current back thru the service neutral.
SO the question does a ground rod work? Yes for what it is designed for. No for clearing faults.
