Fuel Storage Tank Program
Does Your Property Have a Fuel Storage Tank?
Many homes built between the 1920s and 1960s used oil as a heating fuel, with oil tanks buried close to the foundation of a home. Few homes use oil now, and home owners may not realize that they have an old tank on their property. Tanks have an average life of 20 to 25 years, after which they can begin to leak hazardous materials.
Signs that you may have an underground tank include:
- A filler pipe sticking out of the ground;
- A vent pipe at the side of the house;
- A metal pipe cap close to the front or back yard;
- A sunken area on your lawn.
Even if these signs are not visible, it is still possible that a tank may exist on your property. Hiring a professional Oil Tank Contractor is the best way to ensure your property is tank free. Please contact a Registered Environmental Consultant via the list provided below, or check telephone listings for a qualified professional.
Oil floats on water, so every time it rains the oil makes its way to the surface causing a rainbow sheen. This can cause cross contamination, leak into a neighbours property, or into a creek, killing fish.
A single pinhole leak in a 1,000 gallon fuel storage tank can leak its contents into the environment in less than eight hours contaminating the principle property, groundwater, streams, neighbouring properties and injuring wildlife.
Background Information on Our Program:
In 1988/1989 West Vancouver Fire & Rescue performed a door-to-door survey of all homes in West Vancouver with fuel/oil tank installation records. Some records are the result of actual dip tests while others were based on verbal statements from the property owners.
Fire department fuel/oil tank records are gathered from different sources and are for convenience only and should not be relied on for any purchase decision for any property. Unless the Fire & Rescue Department is in possession of a completed West Vancouver Fire & Rescue Fuel Storage Tank Closure Report, we cannot confirm the status of the Fuel/Oil Tank. The District of West Vancouver assumes no liability for soil conditions on the property due to fuel storage tank leakage.
What to do next?
We recommend contracting the services of a professional Oil Tank Contractor to survey the property to verify or negate the existence of an oil tank. If a fuel storage tank is located, a permit of $336.00 (including HST) is required from Fire & Rescue to remove or decommission the tank.
Notice to Property Owners
West Vancouver Fire & Rescue is not responsbile for and will not interpret environmental results contained in a report from a Registered Professional Environmental Consultant. In addition, the Fire Department is not responsible for and will not interpret results from metal detection scans performed by an Oil Tank Contractor.
West Vancouver Fire & Rescue requires up to 14 days processing time from receipt of fuel storage tank removal documents to issuance of final Fuel Storage Tank Closure Report signed by West Vancouver Fire & Rescue.
West Vancouver Fire & Rescue has a comprehensive program to assist you with the removal of your fuel storage tank. The following information will assist you in dealing with a fuel storage tank on your property.
More Information
Links
Photos depicting oil tank removal and remediation:
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Oil tank excavation. Top of tank is visible. Approximately 4 ft. deep. |
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Contaminated soil on tarp, along side clean sand for re-fill. |
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Underground fuel storage tank that has been removed and split open. |
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Oil migration from tank to creek. Oil is being absorbed by absorbent pads. |