Information on Domestic Oil Tank Spills

Last Revised:
August 05, 2008

Information on Domestic Oil Tank Spills

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OIL TANK INSTALLATIONS

Your tank should be certified by one of the appropriate authorities, such as Underwriters’ Laboratories of Canada (ULC), or other agency recognized by the Standards Council of Canada.
Never buy or install a used tank; you may not be saving money in the long run.
Install your tank so snow and ice from the roof will not impact the tank or connections.
Install a shield to protect your connections, this may be available from your fuel supplier.
All pipe connections should be metal as other materials, such as plastic, do not conform to the National Fire Code.
Install your tank a minimum of 15 meters (50 feet) away from any well or water course.
Install the tank on a solid, level, non-combustible footing, such as a concrete pad or patio blocks.
The oil tank should not be in contact with the building as this may contribute to premature deterioration due to corrosion.
Do not transfer oil from your old tank to your new tank as it could contaminate your new tank with water and sludge.

OIL TANK MAINTENANCE

It is your responsibility to ensure the integrity of your tank and installation.
Inspect your oil tank regularly for any signs of internal corrosion coming through which would compromise the integrity of the tank.
Inspect your tank, footing, and supports for any signs of shifting.
Your fuel oil distributor can do a visual inspection of your tank if you are unsure of age or condition.
Keep your tank, lines and connections clear of snow and ice.
Clear your roof of snow and ice that could fall and damage your tank and/or connections.
Contact your insurance broker or agent regarding oil spill coverage. After a spill it may be too late!

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"

GENERAL INFORMATION

Spills and Remediation

Domestic oil tank spills contaminate soil and ground water.
Most oil tank spills are a result of a pinhole leak, which can leak 1000 liters within eight hours.
One liter of oil can contaminate one million liters of drinking water.
Oil spill remediation costs range from $5,000 to $150,000 and up.
Removal of tank, lines and contaminated soil is almost always required.
Removal of large amounts of soil for decontamination as well as replacement of house basement and foundation could be required in more serious situations.
If surface or ground water is contaminated, remediation costs escalate.
The homeowner is responsible for reporting and cleaning up spills.
Insurance may respond to genuine accidental situations. It will not respond to clean up of accumulative or past pollution problems.

"Remember you own it"

GENERAL INFORMATION

There are testing standards for your tank: Look for a certification label. This will also give manufacture date.
The average domestic oil tank contains up to 1000 liters.
When buying a tank, some considerations are:
- Tanks are available with waste water valves to drain off water from the bottom.
- Plastic liners are also available, which help reduce internal corrosion.
- Tanks constructed of thicker metal will often last longer than those constructed with thinner material.
- Some tanks prevent accumulation of water in the bottom of the tank by drawing the condensation off as the oil enters the furnace.

"Do not buy or install used tanks."