TSSA investigation statistics show that old, rusting underground tanks and poorly maintained and defective heating systems are the leading sources of fuel oil leaks and spills. These leaks and spills can result in serious environmental damage and costly clean-up repairs.

For regulatory information, please visit www.tssa.org/regulated/fuels/fuelsReporting.asp or http://www.tssa.org/regulated/fuels/environment/fuelsEnviron02.asp.

There are two distinct soil remediation processes in use today.

Excavate impacted soil and dispose of at a registered receiver with a certificate of authority granted by the M.O.E. & E. This method is more costly, however, is used in circumstances where timing is crucial (i.e., closing date of sale), or when the contamination has migrated to adjacent properties. This process is very invasive as the impacted soils are excavated and replaced. Waterline only removes the soils that are above the M.O.E. & E. guidelines. Confirming soil samples are taken to provide assurance that the remediation has been done to code compliance.

Bio-remediation with natural soil bacteria to degrade the hydrocarbon soil to within M.O.E. & E. guidelines is becoming a more widely used option. Bio-remediation is far less invasive as we inject bio-fluid through 1 ½" PVC pipes, which are placed into the defined plume of contamination. Typically, this system takes 4 to 8 weeks. We monitor the degradation of the area with sampling of soils and report, to the owner, as the degradation approaches acceptable levels. The process continues in the ground until all hydrocarbon compaction is degraded to zero.

How can I tell if my underground tank is leaking?

Because they are buried, it is difficult to tell if the tank is leaking. Some underground tanks may leak for years without owners realizing it. If one or more of the following occurs, your tank may have sprung a large leak;

• an increase in oil consumption
• plugged nozzle by sucking in sand
• repeated burner flame out because of water penetration

What do I do if I suspect my underground tank is leaking?