As discussed, from 1[SUP]st[/SUP] October 2010, Approved Document J of the Building Regulations for England and Wales has added to the risk assessment and will require all new and replacement oil storage tanks not exceeding 2500 litres to be provided with secondary containment, if they are located within Zone 1 (inner protection zone) of an Environment Agency Groundwater Source Protection Zone (SPZ).
SPZs have been identified by the Environment Agency to protect 2000 groundwater sources (e.g. wells, boreholes and springs) used for public drinking water supply from activities that may cause pollution. Zone 1 is defined as the 50 day travel time from any point below the water table to the source. This zone has a minimum radius of 50 metres.
The Environment Agency has set up an internet tool which can be used by technicians to indicate areas of groundwater based on a postcode entry.
For further information and to find out where SPZs exist in your region, please visit
Environment Agency - What's in your backyard?
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries on this or if I am able to be of further technical assistance in the future.
Kind regards,
Matthew Northcott
Technical Officer
OFTEC
Oil Firing Technical Association
Foxwood House, Dobbs Lane, Kesgrave, Ipswich IP5 2QQ
Tel: 0845 65 85 080 Fax: 0845 65 85 181
www.oftec.org
