Owning an oil tank can be a significant responsibility; for example, you have to ensure the tank does not contaminate the land it is on, that its contents are held securely, and that the tank itself is securely installed.
Let’s look first at security. Thefts from tanks are an unfortunate fact of life, with thieves none too fussy about whether they contaminate your land while carrying out their crime. Then there is vandalism and arson, which are both threats escorts to the environment around your tank and likely to land you with a big clean-up bill; however, there are some steps you can take to discourage tampering with the tank.
Security measures
Firstly, try to hide it. If you can site your tank underground or behind farm buildings, or if you can plant hedging around it, people won’t know you have it; if it is highly visible, it advertises its presence. Have a lockable cap for the filler point, and keep it locked at all times. Make sure the tank is not corroded anywhere – thieves find it easier to punch through a rusty tank. If you do not have one, install a tank monitor and take frequent readings so that you know if there is a sudden drop in the tank level.
Some owners decide to get rid of the tank altogether or to replace a metal tank that is in poor condition with a new one with modern security features. Others decide to place the new tank underground where it can’t be seen. All these decisions mean that tank decommissioning by an expert such as http://www.ashremediation.co.uk needs to take place.
Decommissioning an old oil tank
OFTEC, the body that regulates both domestic and commercial requirements for oil storage and supply equipment, produces detailed guidance on the rules and regulations that govern oil tank decommissioning.
There are further regulations from DEFRA and the Health and Safety Executive. Ignoring any of these could mean a fine, prosecution, or more remedial work to fix a problem created during the decommissioning process. Decommissioning is a job much better carried out by remediation experts that do this frequently, know all the regulations and the forms that have to be completed and can advise on the safest, quickest and least expensive way to get the job done.
