Maintaining a large supply of petroleum-based products might be essential for the day-to-day activities of your company. Storing these products in an underground tank makes the most sense when it comes to preserving available space and ensuring easy access at all times.

Unfortunately, underground storage tanks can present a unique threat to groundwater supplies in the surrounding area. Ensuring that your tank doesn't leak is essential when it comes to preventing contamination.

Install a spill bucket.

Your underground storage tank is particularly vulnerable during those times when it is being filled. During filling, a hose is connected to the tank to transfer petroleum products from a delivery truck directly into your storage tank. When the hose is uncoupled from the tank, spillage can occur.

Installing a spill bucket helps to eliminate contamination by catching spilled product after hose disconnections. You need to ensure that your spill bucket is large enough to accommodate the full amount of product that could be contained within the delivery hose. Though it's rare for the full volume to spill out, the possibility exists and a spill bucket needs to be large enough to capture all spills that could occur during delivery.

Maintain an overfill alarm.

Adding an overfill alarm to your underground petroleum storage tank can be a beneficial way to prevent groundwater contamination. Since the tank is located below the ground's surface, it's difficult to see how full the tank is during a petroleum delivery.

Overfilling can cause toxic petroleum-based products to spill out of your tank and into the surrounding soil where it could infiltrate groundwater supplies. An overfill alarm that is properly maintained will alert the delivery operator when the tank is nearing capacity. The alarm lets the operator stop filling the tank before it overflows, helping to effectively protect your tank from leaks.

Inspect for damage regularly.

Examining your underground storage tank for structural flaws can seem impossible, but specialized cameras exist that allow you to view the interior walls of your storage tank clearly. You should routinely examine your tank for signs of corrosion, as deterioration of the tank could lead to serious leaks over time.

A corroded tank should be emptied immediately and replaced with a new tank constructed from corrosion-resistant steel materials before you resume storing petroleum-based products on your property.

When you opt to install an underground storage tank to house your spare petroleum supply, you must ensure that you are taking preventative action to eliminate contamination For more information, contact a company like Nelson Petroleum.

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