02/02/2005 - The Environment
Agency is urging householders and businesses
in Hampshire with private oil tanks to check
the tanks and pipework for damage. Acting
now can avoid damaging leaks which not only
harm the environment but can also prove
extremely costly for the owner.
Each year the Environment Agency is called
out to deal with leaks or spills from worn
out, split, damaged or vandalised domestic
tanks. This winter Environment Agency Officers
in Hampshire have already dealt with a number
of serious leaks from heating oil tanks
including:
Approximately 850 litres of heating oil
was lost from a new tank near Andover due
to a failure in the pipe. Oil entered the
groundwater although fortunately drinking
water was unaffected, The Environment Agency’s
quick response to recover the lost oil meant
it did not spread further
In October, 2,500 litres of heating oil
leaked when a tank near Bishop’s Waltham
catastrophically failed minutes after it
had been filled. The tank appeared to have
rusted along a welded seam which caused
the heating oil to enter a chalk underground
water supply. This led to the insurance
company incurring costs at present in excess
of £150,000 possibly rising to over
£1million if substantial quantities
of oil are located. The water company has
shut a major drinking water borehole as
a precaution to protect the water supply.
Heating oil leaked into the ground over
a period of five months near Andover. The
leak was identified when the householder
realised their consumption of oil was excessive.
Oil had already gone into the foundations
of the house and affected the stability
of the building. The property will have
to be underpinned and the contamination
removed.
Oil leaks can damage plants and wildlife
and ruin precious habitats. Oil can also
severely impact the quality of groundwater
- a valuable resource accounting for the
majority of the drinking water supply in
Hampshire.
It is a criminal offence to cause pollution
of controlled waters, which includes groundwater.
Recovery of lost oil can be very expensive
sometimes escalating well in excess of £100,000.
These costs are not always covered by household
insurance so it could fall on the owner
of the tank to pay these costs.
Gareth Bates, Environment Management Team
Leader in Hampshire, said: "It is the
legal responsibility of householders to
ensure that oil does not leak from their
storage tanks. As well as the risk of prosecution
and the high clean up costs, oil damages
plants and wildlife, makes soil infertile,
ruins habitats and can also contaminate
drinking water supplies.
"A few simple checks can identify
the problems before they cause pollution
so we urge people to follow these before
it is too late."
The Environment Agency advises that where
possible all pipework in oil tanks should
be securely laid above ground so any leaks
to the pipe can be easily identified. Owners
should also closely monitor fuel consumption
as this will increase if a leak occurs and
pipes can be pressure tested to expose leaks.
External site gauges can be easily vandalised
or blown over in strong wind so they should
be securely supported and fitted with a
spring-loaded release valve. Anyone requiring
more information or advice can contact the
Environment Agency on 08708 506 506.
If a spill or leak of oil is identified
the leak should be stopped immediately and
any lost oil should be contained or absorbed.
Oil should not be washed into drains or
the ground and the Environment Agency should
be contacted immediately on the emergency
hotline number 0800 80 70 60.
