Environment Agency warns about domestic oil tanks (From Yeovil Express)

Environment Agency warns about domestic oil tanks

10:00pm Saturday 31st October 2009

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THE Environment Agency is reminding homeowners in the Yeovil area to check their domestic oil tanks before they top them up for the winter.

Leaking oil can cause major lasting damage to the environment. It can contaminate groundwater, kill plants, harm wildlife, pollute rivers and even taint drinking water supplies.

Clean up costs can run to thousands of pounds. Incidents like this aren’t always covered by insurance.

Earlier this month officers from the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service contacted the Environment Agency to inform it of an oil pollution in Cossington, a village off the A39 in Somerset.

Heating oil had leaked into a brook, which flows behind some houses. Residents had contacted the Fire Service because the smell was over-powering.

Environment Agency officers managed to prevent the leak from spreading further in the brook by using booms and oil absorbent pads, but unfortunately, the oil had already killed some eels, freshwater shrimps and some plants in nearby gardens.

Despite putting leaflets through front doors and inspecting a large number of oil tanks in the surrounding area, the source of the leak has never been found.

“This means it could happen again," said Trudy Dove, from the Environment Agency.

“Each year the Environment Agency deals with around 3,500 oil pollution incidents like this. A substantial number of these are due to leaks and spills from domestic oil storage tanks.

"Oil is expensive and losing it through spillages is not only a costly waste and threat to the environment, but can also lead to prosecution.”

Householders are asked to take the following steps.

* Check your tank and pipework regularly, look for corrosion damage and signs of leaks. If you spot a problem get it fixed immediately.

* Keep a close eye on how much oil you use. If it suddenly changes you might have a leak.

* Don’t allow your tank to be overfilled. Check how much oil is in your tank before receiving a delivery.

* Be at home when the delivery is made so you can stop the delivery if there are any leaks or overflows.

* Make sure your sight tube gauge isn’t left open after or between deliveries.

* Make sure your tank is clearly labelled with the safe capacity and fuel type.

* Have your boiler, tank, ancillary equipment and all pipework checked by an Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) technician at least once a year.

* Make sure nothing is put on top of a plastic tank as this could easily cause damage.

* Check your home insurance policy – you may not be covered for loss of oil or pollution clean-up costs.

In September 2005 strict new standards for oil storage facilities came into force.

The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Regulations apply to all domestic tanks over 3,500 litres (770 gallons) and most commercial and public premises.

For further information see www.environment-agency.gov.uk/osr (click on the link in our "related articles" section) or contact the Environment Agency’s National Customer Contact Centre on 08708-506506 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday.

In the event of a spill contact the Environment Agency’s free 24-hour hotline 0800-807060.

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