Water in Oil tank, how to remove ??

[gingalig]

Hi and thanks in advance for any help, I went out to a breakdown today the tank had a fair bit of water in it when dipped with paste it indicated it to be close to the outlet but not above it, I bled the pump and what came out was pretty grim very contaminated with water approx 70mm,
( the owner had just had a 1000 lts of oil delivered,) I managed to drain about half a gallon out of the tank via the outlet and it flowed clean, ( no filter etc on the tank) cleaned the filter in the pump changed the nozzle because it was badly contaminated and bled through, getting the boiler up and running again. ( not sure for how long with the water issue ) My question is, and please excuse my ignorance whats the best way to remove the water from the tank and how should I dispose of it, I do have a waste disposal liscence but not really sure it covers me for transport of what could be a fair bit of contaminated oil, the tank is 2m round and 1.5m tall, single skin so pretty big. I have advised it needs changing as its not bunded and also fails the fire risk element of the T 1133D by a whole host of issues.

 

[sammathias]

You would probably only be looking at 3 5 gallon drums max of water/contaminate. Which you shouldn't need a license to dispose of...will need a fuel pump and battery tho and your local tip usually takes old oil?

 

[rpm]

You would probably only be looking at 3 5 gallon drums max of water/contaminate. Which you shouldn't need a license to dispose of...will need a fuel pump and battery tho and your local tip usually takes old oil?

Around here you need a licence for everything and anything in the van plus local tip now charging for a whole host of things and they wonder why fly tipping is on the increase.

 

[sammathias]

Around here you need a licence for everything and anything in the van plus local tip now charging for a whole host of things and they wonder why fly tipping is on the increase.

Oh I'm pretty sure down this way you can carry a certain amount of oil without a license...50litres spring to mind but could be wrong.

 

[Best]

Around here you need a licence for everything and anything in the van plus local tip now charging for a whole host of things and they wonder why fly tipping is on the increase.

Over here in N.I. we can buy kerosine already in a 20 litre drum at most of the big petrol forecourts.
Or some of the garages have kerosine at the pumps (blue nozzle) and therefore means we can bring our own drums to save money.
Not sure the regs here, but obviously we are permitted to carry some kerosine.
As to the OPs question, - a small amount of water will not do any harm if it is well below the outlet. So all you need to use is a diesel transfer pump with a pipe/hose to very close to base of tank and pump the water into drums until you see it becoming pure kerosine.
The pump inside will need cleaned afterwards.
If tank high enough, you could also have it syphoned by using a garden hose (contaminated, so use for kerosine only) with a copper pipe connected to it for down to tank base. Start it syphoning only by a remote method, such as having the hose initially filled with water and dropping the end of hose into a drum at lower level.

 

[gingalig]

Thank you all for the help. Out with the hoses and a pump I will go.

 

[Best]

Thank you all for the help. Out with the hoses and a pump I will go.

Inspect the top of the tank to see if there is anywhere rain water can enter. I find the flange type screw in lids are obviously letting the rain in on windy days

 

[gingalig]

Inspect the top of the tank to see if there is anywhere rain water can enter. I find the flange type screw in lids are obviously letting the rain in on windy days

 

[Best]

View attachment 33778

Have you not got a trigger nozzle with that, - similar to those at a petrol station?

 

[gingalig]

Have you not got a trigger nozzle with that, - similar to those at a petrol station?

I knew this was the place to come for some bright ideas