Advise oil spill from tank..

[gingalig]

Thank you for any advise, I was called to attend for a tank inspection following a request to the customer from the environment agency who have found traces of heating oil in a local drain off ditch. (The customer is elderly and has recently lost her husband. ) I found it was single skin plastic seeping from the base with no access to stop or stem it. The base which is pavers, is below ground level by about 75mm. I have left a warning notice and report classified as IR. The customer called friend who came over and has a local farmer contact that has a fuel tanker and fuel pump that is going to pump out asap, they are going to let me know exactly when, the leak is a very slow seep but there is no way to stop it . Should I now be reporting this to the environment agency.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

i would let them know and that your replacing the tank and do they need to do anything before hand

 

[centralheatking]

i would let them know and that your replacing the tank and do they need to do anything before hand

Remember this tank MUST be bunded now. Others will explain but basically
an oil tight wall must be constructed on a base that will contain any future leak
...I would help and have a look at the insurance policy assuming they own the
place....they might even get the value of the lost fuel, as well...I am happy to assist
centralheatking

 

[snowhead]

Yes, contact the Environmet Agency, they may also want to know what the customer is going to do about cleaning up the ground, specialist company may be required, contact their fuel delivery company, they'll know someone locally.

https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/163502/how_to_-deal_with_domestic_oil_spills_full_guide.pdf

 

[gingalig]

Thanks for the responses, the old tank has now been pumped out, the environment agency had asked for a tank report which is being forwarded to them. I'll give them a ring Monday.
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Remember this tank MUST be bunded now. Others will explain but basically
an oil tight wall must be constructed on a base that will contain any future leak
...I would help and have a look at the insurance policy assuming they own the
place....they might even get the value of the lost fuel, as well...I am happy to assist
centralheatking

Just quoted for a new plastic bunded tank. And a new base with the 300mm around tank, relocating to somewhere with the correct seperation distances, I think unfortunately that with traces In the water course, the environment agency are going to want rectification and disposal of contaminants, I'll ask her to check her insurance.

 

[SimonG]

Who was the last engineer on site? Did they leave any paperwork?

 

[gingalig]

Who was the last engineer on site? Did they leave any paperwork?

I was the last engineer on site, I left a T1/133D tank report and a CD/14 warning notice with sticker on tank rated as Immediate risk. The fuel oil was pumped out within 2 hours of my visit.

 

[SimonG]

I was the last engineer on site, I left a T1/133D tank report and a CD/14 warning notice with sticker on tank rated as Immediate risk. The fuel oil was pumped out within 2 hours of my visit.

What about prior to your visit?

 

[gingalig]

What about prior to your visit?

I'm not sure, apparently the boiler was serviced about 3 months ago. I'll ask her, although wouldnt want to be him if he didnt leave a tank report.