Underground storage tank leaks usually start out as a very small hole in the tank structure that causes petroleum to leach into the surrounding soil. Unfortunately, leaks in tanks cannot be repaired and the tank will need to be removed, cleaned, and scrapped. The surrounding soil must also be removed in order to clean it properly.
A soil test will be the most reliable way to find out if your tank has been leaking. A soil test can determine whether oil has leaked into the soil. TankFinders in-house environmental specialists will take a minimum of five soil samples, which is now mandated for all tank removals in Vancouver.
**If you do have a tank leak, don't worry, the cleanup process is not always a major project.**
On top of fully managing your tank removal project, if soil contamination is suspected, an environmental specialist from TankFinders will be on-site to personally collect soil samples. These samples are taken from mandated locations around the tank and will be analyzed for contamination by an independent accredited testing laboratory. The lab will also provide a written report on the results.
Once the extent of the contamination is determined, TankFinders will have suspect soils from the tank-hold area removed by trusted contractors. TankFinders has its own licensed and approved offsite disposal/cleaning facility (www.SoilFinders.com) where the soil will be taken to eventually be cleaned.
TankFinders then coordinates to have the remaining hole properly backfilled with clean soil, avoiding sink holes. TankFinders can also make recommendations for excellent landscapers to pretty the site up and get things back to normal. We want you to be happy with the end result and leave your property looking better than before we arrived.
TankFinders will ensure:
- That there is a certified environmental professional on-site as soon as the tank has been pumped of its contents to sample the surrouding soil. We take a minimum of five soil samples, as required by most Municipalities.
- That a certified environmental professional is on-site to direct the removal of contaminated soil from your site. We only have the soil removed that is actually required to be removed, so we can pass some savings along to you.
- That your soil samples are taken to be analyzed at a certified laboratory. We take our samples ethically, and in a manner acceptable to the Ministry of Environment.
- That the advice you are being given is practical. Sometimes it is more practical to machine excavate, which speeds the job up and can end up costing you less. Sometimes it may be necessary to dig an underground tank out by hand, for example, if you are in a tight spot up against a building, or near gas lines.