December 6, 2011
Householders are being urged to check
the condition of domestic oil tanks.
Hambleton and Richmondshire District Council’s
environmental health team say that as the cold weather begins to
set in and tanks are being filled to capacity, it is vital to look
for signs of corrosion and leaks.
A tank in poor condition, poorly sited or not
within a suitable bunded area can be at risk of leaks or spillages.
Contamination of gardens and surrounding properties - or oil
seeping into ground water, rivers and streams - can occur.
As well as being flammable, domestic fuel oil
is toxic to vegetation and living organisms. Vapours can be harmful
to health if allowed to build up in enclosed spaces, so if the tank
is close to homes swift action is needed.
If a spill occurs during filling of the tank,
the fuel company is responsible but at any other time it is the
responsibility of the owner or occupier of the property. The
spillage must be contained and cleaned up immediately which can be
expensive depending on the damage caused.
What to do if there is a spill:
- check tanks for signs of corrosion or areas of oil
staining
- contain spillages with absorbent material such as sand
- cover nearby drain covers to prevent fuel oil getting into
water systems
- contact the District Council’s Environmental Health team who
can ensure the clean up is carried out properly
- notify the home insurance company in case there is cover under
the policy
If the spill goes unreported or any
contamination remains untreated, local authorities have the power
to secure the remediation of any contamination, whether it is
caused by the fuel delivery company or at any other time.
Should assessment show that replacement oil
tanks are needed Planning or Building Regulation approval should be
checked.
For further information contact Environmental
Health Technical Support on 0845 1211 555 or EnvironmentalHealthTechnicalSupport@hambleton.gov.uk
Further information can be obtained from:
The Building Regulations 2000 Approved
Document J deals with provisions for liquid fuel storage - contact
North Yorkshire Building Control Partnership on 01347 822703 or
enquiries@nybcp.org
The Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC)
can provide further information and advice on finding a registered
technician and replacement tanks: http://www.oftec.org/
The Control of Pollution (Oil
Storage) (England) Regulations 2001, regulated by the Environment
Agency, apply to non-domestic oil storage. However if
your domestic oil tank is larger than 3,500 litre capacity then
these Regulations will apply. More information on 03708
506506; environment-agency.gov.uk