Rita Penman - 20-Oct-2008
- Oil tank leaks and spillages are among
the most common causes of water pollution
and during the last three years the Environment
Agency has responded to 40 incidents across
Lincolnshire.
Pollution by oil can
damage plants and wildlife, make soil infertile
and ruin habitats.
Once they are installed,
oil tanks are often forgotten about and
receive very little attention until something
goes wrong, despite the introduction of
the Oil Storage Regulations and stiff penalties
for not complying. It is against the law
to cause pollution.
‘Anyone who has a domestic
heating oil tank has a responsibility to
ensure that the tank and pipe work are regularly
inspected and maintained. Autumn is the
time of year when people refill tanks and
turn the heating on again. If problems go
unnoticed and leaks occur then the environment
is put at risk and people may have a very
expensive clean up bill on their hands,’
said Environment Officer Emily Baxendale.
‘If you notice a sudden
increase in the amount of oil you are using
check for leaks. Even a minor leak can add
up to a large loss of fuel over time. In
serious cases houses have to be evacuated,
because oil which has soaked into the ground
close to houses, produces fumes inside,’
she said.
A British standard (BS5410
Part 1 1997) applies to all domestic oil
storage tanks in addition to the requirements
of building regulations.
It is expensive to clean
up an oil spill so it is a good idea to
check that home insurance policies cover
this type of accident because not all of
them do. It is the homeowner’s responsibility
to ensure that the tank and its fittings
are in good condition, including underground
pipes. If this is not done, then insurance
cover may be invalidated.
Dealing with spills/
leaks
If you have an oil leak
or spill at home try to stop it at the source
and use absorbing material such as sand,
to contain the oil to prevent it entering
any drains or watercourses
Call 0800 80 70 60 to notify Environment
Agency
Do not hose the spillage down or use any
detergents
Do not drink any water suspected of being
contaminated until tests have been carried
out
For more information please visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk
or www.netregs.gov.uk
+ More
More rain in winter
prompts flood awareness message
Martin Watkins - 23-Oct-2008
- More rain in winter prompts flood awareness
message
Although floods can
strike at any time there is a higher likelihood
of flooding in Wales and the border areas
during the autumn and winter months. This
is borne out by what has happened in the
past.
10 years ago this month
heavy rainfall resulted in the flooding
of properties and businesses in communities
in many parts of Wales. The worst affected
areas were in south and mid Wales and included
Aberdulais, Aberfan, Builth Wells, Llandovery,
Pencoed, Pontardawe and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Two years later in October
2000 major storms across Wales brought exceptionally
heavy and persistent rainfall to many areas
with north east Wales tacking the brunt
of the bad weather this time. Areas affected
included Mold, Ruthin and Rhyl in north
east Wales and Newport and the Vale of Glamorgan
in the south east.
Work carried out at
all these locations since then has improved
the level of protection against flooding
for many thousands of people. Flood defences
proved very effective during the heavy rain
storms experienced across Wales last month
and earlier this month.
What we do
Our job in Environment
Agency Wales is to protect and warn people
about flooding from main rivers and the
sea. It is not possible however to stop
flooding. Extreme weather events are becoming
more frequent, causing flooding from different
sources including rivers, the sea, surface
water and overflowing sewers and drains.
Flooding will become more frequent in future
with the impact of climate change.
Environment Agency Wales
continues to prioritise flood schemes for
the most vulnerable communities across Wales.
Work to reinforce the defences at Bangor
on Dee, for example, has just been completed.
These defences have protected some 450 properties
in the village on numerous occasions over
the years against flooding from the main
River Dee.
We also provide a variety
of flood information services (see notes)
to warn people of the risks and dangers
of flooding and advise them that there are
simple things they can do in advance to
be prepared for flooding.
What can you do?
More than half-a-million
people in Wales live, work or travel through
areas at risk of coastal or river flooding.
Environment Agency Wales is urging every
household and business to check their flood
risk by calling Floodline on 0845 9881188
(local rate) or using the online postcode
checker at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood.
Geraint Davies, Flood
Risk Management Wales Committee Chair, said:
"Last year's devastating
floods in England - plus the floods we experienced
in Wales this year - show that climate change
demands we are prepared for flooding."
John Mosedale, the Agency’s
Flood Risk Manager for Wales said:
“Just because you haven’t
been flooded before doesn’t mean you won’t
be flooded in the future. We need to raise
awareness of flood risk. There are things
that people can do to prepare for flooding
and minimise the effects.”
John added: “People
must be prepared for floods and know what
to do if the worst happens. We strongly
advise that every household in a flood risk
area has their own plan of action that can
be quickly put in place during a flood emergency.
All households should read our three flooding
guides, “What to do Before, During and After
a Flood” as in many cases preparation makes
a big difference.”
Our flooding guides
offer simple and practical advice on how
to protect your family, home and possessions
before, during and after a flood. The three
leaflets are:
Preparing for a flood
- this leaflet contains useful information
to help people prepare for flooding and
reduce the effect of flooding on people
and their property.
During a flood - this
leaflet explains what people can do to stay
safe during a flood with advice on what
they can do to protect their property.
After a flood - this
leaflet offers advice to people if they
have been affected by flooding.
These flood guides are
available free 24 hours a day by calling
our Floodline 0845 988 1188 or online at
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodline
+ More
Enforcement ensures
oil safety
Sarah Cooper - 22-Oct-2008
- As part of an ongoing oil storage campaign,
the Environment Agency has visited a series
of industrial estates in Cambridgeshire
and Bedfordshire over the past week.
Environment Agency officers
have been inspecting oil storage tanks at
the estates, checking the structure and
location of tanks, ensuring the pipework
was safe and that the tanks were generally
well maintained.
A key part of the environment
officers’ role during the enforcement was
to make sure there were suitable procedures
in place for deliveries, as well as when
dealing with spills and leaks, to prevent
pollution incidents. Any business found
storing oil or fuels on the premises were
provided with a guide to oil storage and
specific advice.
Richard Bowen, environment
manager, said: “We regularly visit industrial
estates and during our recent visits we
have concentrated on oil storage.
We’ve been giving advice
and guidance to businesses with oil tanks
to explain the legislation surrounding oil
storage. We’ve been helping them to assess
specific risks for their tank and highlighted
the implications a leaking or damaged tank
could have to both the surrounding environment
and the business, especially if it ends
up with a large clean-up bill or fine for
pollution.”
At just one inspection
at the Clifton road industrial estate in
Cambridge, three oil tanks, owned by three
different companies, were found to not meet
the standards of current pollution prevention
regulations. In the past year, there has
been a number of reported fuel thefts from
this estate, suggesting that security of
oil tanks and the associated pollution risks
are a significant issue in this area.
Richard added: “Safe
oil storage is paramount for all businesses
and the environment officers have worked
hard to make sure everyone is aware of the
implications poor oil storage can have on
the local environment.”
For further information
regarding both domestic and commercial oil
storage go to www.environment-agency.gov.uk.
Members of the
media are invited to attend an inspection
with an environment officer.
When: Thursday 23 October, 9am – 2pm
Where: Bicton Industrial Estate, Kimbolton,
Huntingdon
Who: Environment officers from the Environment
Agency
