Now’s the time to check your oil tank

16 Sep 2015 12:32 PM

It feels like autumn is already here and many households will soon be getting oil delivered ready for winter.

It is also the time of year when the Environment Agency urges people to check their oil tanks to protect the environment and reduce the risk of potentially large financial losses.

Leaked oil can end up in drains, many of which lead directly to rivers, streams, lakes and even garden ponds, having the same effect as pouring it directly into the watercourse.

Oil is poisonous to fish and other wildlife and smothers plants. Just 2 litres of oil could seriously pollute the volume of fresh water needed to fill an olympic-size swimming pool.

Senior Environment Officer Brian Grant said:

Heating oil can cause serious problems if it gets into the environment. But it’s not just the cost of losing the oil that can be expensive, clean up costs can be large and are not always covered by household insurance policies.

This is why it is vital that oil is only ever stored in tanks that are in good condition. Both the tank and pipe work should be regularly inspected and people should never buy more oil than they can safely store.

Householders with domestic oil tanks should take the following action to ensure they are safe for use:

To report an oil spill or leak, people should contact the Environment Agency’s 24-hour emergency hotline on 0800 807060.