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Underground news: beware life span of oil tanks

Gary Dymski | Home Work

June 16, 2005

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What would you do if your underground oil tank sprang a leak? One response is certain - dig into your pockets.

Removing contaminated soil, abandoning the old tank and installing a new one could cost thousands of dollars.

"We've had cases where tanks have been buried in areas with a high water table, and the oil seeps into the groundwater and even a neighbor's basement," said Karen Gomez, a regional oil spill engineer with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Stony Brook office. "You're looking at easily $100,000 for a cleanup."

Unfortunately, Gomez figures, many homeowners who have underground oil tanks are reactive instead of proactive. Translation: They wait until it is too late. Once the underground tank fails, it can be a homeowner's worst nightmare.

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When an underground tank leaks, the DEC may hold the homeowner liable for cleanup costs. Plus, the owner's insurance may not cover the cleanup; many such policies have pollution exclusion clauses, said Philip Nykamp, a partner with the law firm, Twomey, Latham, Shea & Kelley in Riverhead.

There are an estimated 70,000 underground tanks on Long Island - about 40,000 in Nassau County and 30,000 in Suffolk, according to the DEC. Their life expectancy, from the time of installation, is less than 20 years. About 25 percent of these containers fail each year.

So, don't wait: If your home is 30 to 50 years old and has the original underground tank, replace it. Purchasing a new one and properly abandoning the old one - which involves pumping out the remaining fuel and filling the tank with an absorbing foam or another approved filler - will cost between $2,500 and $3,500. That beats paying more than 10 times as much to deal with a leak.

Under New York State's Oil Spill Law, enacted in 1977, anyone - including the homeowner - who handles a petroleum product without a permit is "strictly liable" for all cleanup and removal costs. This law also requires that all leaky residential oil tanks be reported to the state DEC.

"At the very least, homeowners should know their tank's location and its condition," Nykamp said. "It's a scary issue." Homeowners should consider upgrading their home insurance policies to cover tank failure, he said, which requires testing the existing tank. Nykamp and Gomez said pressure testing, which can cost up to $650, should be avoided because it could cause an older tank to develop a leak.

Locating the underground tank can be as simple as asking the oil provider. To test for leaks use a dowel rod - a long, smooth stick-like piece of wood available at home and hardware stores - as a dipstick. Uncap the fill or inlet line and push the dipstick into the tank until it hits bottom. Mark the oil level with a pencil. Wait several days and test the level again.

Gomez, who has been an oil spill engineer since 1990, said that testing can be done in summer when the furnace is not in use. Remember that hot water will require less than a gallon of oil each day. Wait a day or so and measure again for a second time. If the level is significantly lower, you could have a leak.

Homeowners should review delivery records for the past heating season, since increased fuel consumption could signal a leak. Another indication could be unusual amounts of water in the fuel. Some water through condensation is normal, but high levels might mean underground water is seeping into the tank. To gauge the moisture level, apply a water-reactive paste, available at hardware or heating supply stores, to the dipstick.

Some municipalities prohibit the installation of underground oil tanks; new ones must be placed above ground or in the basement. "If you are selling or buying a home, the issue of an underground tank can come up and possibly delay the sale or cause it to fall through," Gomez said.

Even old tanks that are above ground can leak and cause major problems. It's common for supply lines in basements to crack and leak oil. Copper lines corrode over time, especially when covered or in contact with concrete, Gomez said. "People come home and find their basement floors coated with heating oil because of a faulty supply line. That kind of cleanup is costly, too, and the oil smell is almost impossible to get rid of."

The bottom line is to replace your old tank. Newer tanks are lined with a fiberglass material that resists corrosion. And when it comes down to it, above-ground installations are more practical. "If I were replacing the tank in my own home, I'd prefer the tank above ground, where I could monitor it."

And if she had a tank that was between 20 to 40 years old? "I'd act fast."