An article on the KVOA.com website dated July 5, 2013 details the dangers of having an underground oil tank. The article notes that across the nation, over 500,000 spills of hazardous materials are caused by these damaged and old storage tanks. They pose a significant danger when the substances manage to contaminate underground water supplies.
Numerous homes in New Jersey are also faced with the problem of having unwanted underground storage tanks for oil. Most of these aged structures are well beyond their 10 to 20 years of useful life, which could contaminate the ground and any water supply lines buried deep. Thankfully, convenient NJ oil tank removal is a phone call away, since homeowners can hire companies like Core Environmental Services to dig out the leaking liability.
The article states that the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) received numerous reports of more than 8,500 leaking underground storage tanks across the state. The department has cleaned up about 7,500 of them, although they still receive reports from concerned citizens. The ADEQ can’t stress enough that previous owners of a tank should either maintain the storage, properly seal it, or destroy it before they abandon their lot.
According to the ADEQ, most tanks used to be built out of bare and untreated steel, which corrodes after long periods of time. Naturally, a corroded tank would give way to leaking, spilling its contents underground. Since the late 1990’s, most of the older tanks have been upgraded to newer, more durable kinds, yet there are still plenty of companies that use the previous models.
Arizona’s case isn’t isolated; the entire country is littered with tanks that spew petroleum. There are about 465,000 leaking tanks all across America, especially in rural areas that still depend on the older types of tanks. The liquid can seep into reservoirs, turning the water poisonous, and too much petroleum could eventually even pose a serious fire and explosion threat. Those living in New Jersey might want to call a company that specializes in tank removal in NJ to help them stop the leaks.
Just because a leaking underground tank is buried deep beneath the ground, it doesn’t mean it’s never going to affect you. The dangers of a fuel leak are real, and those planning to move into a new home should inquire whether or not the lot has a new or old tank. It’s highly recommended that folks immediately dig up a tank, leaking or not, if they discover that it’s a pre-1990 model.
