This unknown residential oil tank overflowed after a series of heavy rain storms. It was buried too close to the house foundation to safely remove it. While the tank was being washed and pumped, it was discovered that the tank was partially filled with sand – now contaminated material. The contaminated sand had to be pumped out and properly disposed of along with the residual fuel and contaminated water that was also inside the tank. Once the tank was cleaned and emptied, the tank was filled with concrete to structurally support the house foundation.

Note: Filling the tank with sand did not prevent residual fuel from floating out of the tank. The resulting contaminated surface soil caused a strong petroleum odor alerting the Fire Marshall to get involved. After properly closing the underground oil tank, PES excavated the contaminated surface soil and replaced it with clean material.

#PES #PracticalEnvironmentalSolutions #OilTank #OilTankRemoval #OilTankCleanup #OilTankNC

When NC DOT needed to remove an old emergency generator tank, they called Practical Environmental Solutions. This aboveground tank had been at the ferry landing for a long time. The center bottom was very corroded. Fortunately, it was a double walled tank and hadn’t leaked. After cutting open the tank, we washed the interior and pumped it empty. Proper disposal of the contents and proper disposal of the tank.

#PES #PracticalEnvironmentalSolutions #OilTank #OilTankRemoval #OilTankCleanup #OilTankNC

This tank had to be closed in-place (filled with concrete) because a house addition had been built on top of one end of the tank. Tanks closed in-place still have to be cut open so they can be washed and pumped empty. No, you can’t just fill them with sand. That won’t adequately support the house foundation. Tanks that can’t be removed need to be filled with concrete.

#PES #PracticalEnvironmentalSolutions #OilTank #OilTankRemoval #OilTankCleanup #OilTankNC

Another tank that had to come out to satisfy knowing buyers. Despite a leak, we worked to get a “No Further Action” letter from the State closing out the incident.

Can you tell which half of the tank we had washed out at the time the tank interior picture was taken? Duh!

We had to excavate carefully to work around a buried propane line, an emergency generator and an air conditioner condenser unit. No Problem!

#PES #PracticalEnvironmentalSolutions #OilTank #OilTankRemoval #OilTankCleanup #OilTankNC

It sure is easier and cheaper to remove an oil tank before it overflows and contaminates the whole yard.

All hands on deck!! After several rain events, this unknown tank filled up with rain water causing the remaining fuel in the tank to over flow into the yard. Contaminated surface soil had to be excavated everywhere that the overflowed fuel had floated around the yard. Afterwards, the oil tank was removed and the contaminated soil around the tank was also excavated for proper disposal.

#PES #PracticalEnvironmentalSolutions #OilTank #OilTankRemoval #OilTankCleanup #OilTankNC

Access to this tank was difficult because of a very steep slope into the back yard. We built a dirt ramp to allow the backhoe to remove the tank and contaminated soil and then to bring in clean back fill material. Afterwards, the ramp was removed and the site restored.

#PES #PracticalEnvironmentalSolutions #OilTank #OilTankRemoval #OilTankCleanup #OilTankNC