Fuel Oil Storage Tanks

In accordance with fuels industry standards in Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) registers qualified fuel contractors and inspectors.

Ontario regulatory bodies prefer the use of aboveground fuel oil storage tanks as they are easier to inspect, reducing the risk of spills and increasing the likelihood of leak detection.

Learn more about fuel oil storage tanks here:

Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA)

The TSSA website answers questions such as:

How can I tell if my underground tank is leaking?
What do I do if my underground tank is leaking?
Who are TSSA-Registered Contractors?
How do I register my underground tank?
How do I remove my underground tank?
I no longer use my underground storage tank. Do I have to remove it?
Are there any government funds for homeowners upgrading or removing their underground tanks?

Protecting Drinking Water Sources from Fuel Activities

Oil spills and leaks can occur from corrosion, overfilling, improper tank location, installation and maintenance.

Fuel Storage Fact Sheet

Download our local fuel storage fact sheet (2015):

Fuel Storage Fact Sheet

This is a 300 kb (medium-sized) PDF file of a two-page fact sheet about fuel storage.

Drinking water threats from fuel

It is said that just one litre of fuel can pollute one million litres of water.

A spill of fuel or other petroleum products can seep through the ground and into the aquifers that provide the source of your municipal drinking water.

Fuel could also reach and harm surface water like rivers and the lake.

By making sure that fuel is stored safely you can help to reduce risk to your community’s drinking water supply.

Understanding the threat

Why is fuel considered a threat to drinking water sources?

Compounds in fuel that could contaminate drinking water include petroleum hydrocarbons and BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene). These compounds cause a range of health problems, and some are carcinogenic (cancer-causing).

Threats to drinking water are assessed as low, moderate, or significant.

Whether fuel is considered a significant threat to drinking water, or not, depends on the circumstances of the activity, such as volume of fuel stored, and the proximity of the fuel to the water supply.

Large amounts of fuel – greater than 250 litres stored below grade, or 2,500 litres stored above grade – are a significant threat in wellhead protection areas (zones A or B) in the Maitland Valley and Ausable Bayfield source protection areas.

Large amounts of fuel may be stored in:

Gas stations
Heating oil tanks for homes and businesses
Marinas
Farms
Bulk plants
Cardlocks/keylocks
Private outlets (e.g., public works yard, contractor yard)
Spill prevention is key. Make sure your facility meets all applicable codes and regulations.

Will plans affect me?

Policies in the source protection plans do not apply legal obligations to all people who store or handle fuel. People are required to comply with policies only if they are doing this activity in areas that are vulnerable to contamination, where this fuel storage activity is considered to be a significant threat to drinking water.

Where is fuel a significant threat to drinking water sources?

On properties located within 100 metres of the municipal well (Wellhead Protection Area A), or in most vulnerable areas of the two-year time-of-travel zone (Wellhead Protection Area B).

For maps of wellhead protection areas go to our website at: Maps

To learn if your activity is assessed as a significant threat to drinking water, and how to manage the threat posed by this activity, contact your local risk management official or staff of the source protection region.

Even if your activity is not a significant threat, we encourage you to use best practices that protect your community’s drinking water supply.

Examples of threat activities

Activities that pose threat to drinking water sources include:

Septic systems; On-site sewage
Fuel oil (including home heating oil)
Liquid fuel such as gas stations
Chemicals (toxic chemicals such as organic solvents and dense non-aqueous phase liquids or DNAPLs)
Commercial fertilizer
Pesticides
Nutrients (manure, bio-solids, grazing)
Waste disposal sites (including storage of hazardous waste)
Sewage works (sewage treatment plants, municipal sewers)
Road salt and snow storageOthers: For the list of 22 provincially prescribed drinking water threats, go to this web page:

Activities that could pose threats to drinking water sources in certain circumstances

How is fuel threat being addressed locally?

A local source protection committee has developed plans to protect your municipal sources of drinking water. The Province of Ontario approved the plans for the Maitland Valley and Ausable Bayfield areas in January of 2015. Policies took effect in April of 2015. These plans use a variety of tools to protect municipal drinking water sources:

Education and Outreach

Staff in this region are reaching out to people like you in order to let you know how you can help to protect your local drinking water. We thank you for all you do to protect drinking water sources.

Risk Management Plan (RMP)

A local risk management official works with the operator or landowners to develop a risk management plan.

Required for existing fuel storage only where it poses a significant threat to drinking water sources.

Prohibition

Any new (i.e., future) fuel storage will be prohibited only where it poses a significant threat to drinking water sources.
Prohibition is only used in the most vulnerable areas near municipal wells.

Restricted Land Use

This is a ‘flag’ that helps municipalities identify properties where fuel threat activities require a risk management plan or are prohibited.

Find out more online:

Contact us:

Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region
c/o 71108 Morrison Line, RR 3 Exeter, ON • N0M 1S5
1–888–286–2610 • sourcewaterinfo.on.ca
Maitland Valley Source Protection Area: 519-335-3557 Ausable Bayfield Source Protection Area: 519-235-2610

This project has received funding support from the Government of Ontario. Such support does not indicate endorsement of the contents of this material.

The content provided in this publication is intended for local educational and information purposes only.

Every effort has been made to ensure the correctness of information as at the publication date (July 2015).

Subject to change.

For legislation and regulations visit ontario.ca

Check Your Tank

Check your tank for leaks to ensure you are protecting drinking water sources.

Fuel Tank Warning Signs

There are more than 1,000,000 home heating oil tanks in use in Canada as well as thousands of fuel tanks used by transport businesses, farms, and other businesses. (Source: Statistics Canada)

Fuel tank owners are accountable under the Environmental Protection Act and must report any leak or spill from a tank to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks’ Spills Action Centre at toll-free 1-800-268-6060.

Contact your oil and/or gas supplier or an oil burner technician if you find or experience any of the following issues:

Fuel tank legs that are unstable or on a shaky foundation
If you are using more fuel than normal
Signs of oil in nearby streams, wetlands, or ditches
Signs of dead vegetation over or down slope of the tank
Evidence of rust, weeping, wet spots or excessive dents on your tank
Drips or signs of leaking around the filter or valves
Clogged tank vent or restrictions because of ice, snow, or insect nests (screened vents can prevent insect nest issues)
When the tank is being filled and the overfill whistle is silent (ask your delivery person)
Spills around the fill or vent pipes

Fuel Tank Information

Keep chemicals out of drinking water sources

To report spills or to obtain more information on spill cleanup procedures contact the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Spills Action Centre at toll-free 1-800-268-6060 (24 hours)

Fuel Tank Safety Tools

Have your fuel tank installed by a certified contractor

When installing a new tank choose a double-walled tank with secondary containment

Have your tank installed away from any floor drains or other openings in the floor to prevent spills from escaping

Have your tank inspected annually by an oil burner technician as legally required under Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) code

Ensure your basement tank is easily accessible for inspection

If your tank is installed in a garage, provide proper distance between it and any moving vehicles

Install an overfill protection device on your fuel tank

Have drip trays installed under the tank and oil supply lines

Empty all unused tanks; if you have an abandoned underground tank (underground tanks are prohibited) you are legally required to remove it and remove any contaminated soil

Handling Spills and Leaks

Take the following steps as soon as you find out that your fuel tank has leaked or spilled oil:

Eliminate all sources of ignition
Attempt to eliminate the risk if you can do so safely
Contact your fuel supplier or registered contractor
Contain the spill using whatever materials are available (e.g., pails, rags, newspapers, peat moss, kitty litter, absorbent pads, plastic sheeting).
Do not flush any oil or contaminated material down sewers or floor drains
Notify the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks’ Spills Action Centre immediately if the spill is likely to cause adverse effects to water – Spills Action Centre: Toll-free 1-800-268-6060 / Public pollution reporting hotline: 1-866-MOE-TIPS / 1-866-663-8477
Place spilled oil and any contaminated soil or materials into garbage bags or plastic pails.
For larger spills, you may need the services of a professional cleanup contractor
Properly dispose of any recovered oil, contaminated soil and/or materials. Your municipality or the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks can provide information on proper waste management practices
Contact your insurance agent

Does a home heating oil leak threaten your drinking water?

Home heating oil contains many compounds that have the potential to contaminate drinking water supplies.

Home heating oil contains BTEX, an acronym for benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylenes.

BTEX compounds have been associated with serious health conditions such as leukemia and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, as well as birth defects.

BTEX compounds dissolve easily in water and can travel long distances in ground and surface water.

Heating oil also contains petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC), compounds that originally come from crude oil. PHCs are associated with harmful effects to the reproductive, respiratory, immune, and nervous systems.

PHCs can harm the kidneys, liver, skin, eyes, and blood.

Proper care of your fuel tank is in everyone’s best interest.

Not only can your health be compromised, reimbursement for damages to property as a result of an oil spill can be very costly.

Oil spills can cause significant environmental damage and may not be fully covered by your home insurance policy.