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August 9, 2021 by Waterline Environmental

What You Need to Know About Oil Tank Regulations and Codes in Ontario

So, you just discovered there is an oil tank buried in your backyard. Now you may be wondering, what does this mean? Whether you just purchased your home or have lived in it for many years, the reality is that this newly discovered oil tank is your responsibility.

The thing about oil tanks is that they come with a carefully constructed list of regulations and codes governed by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority, often referred to as the TSSA. If not properly maintained and taken care of, oil tanks can cause serious environmental damage.

If you have never had to manage an oil tank in the past, this may all seem foreign to you. Before making any further decisions, ensure you are educated on fuel oil regulations and codes. Once you know this, you will be able to start the process of updating your oil tank to meet the current expectations.

Your Oil Tank Must Be Registered with the TSSA

Before you are able to have your filled, inspected, maintained or removed, you must first confirm that it is registered. Each unit has a unique registration number, and if you are unsure whether your unit is registered or not, the TSSA will be able to confirm this information for you.

If it has been confirmed that your unit is not yet registered, you must contact the TSSA to register it. The process is quick and easy, and doesn’t cost anything. You can simply fill out the application form online.

Once your form is processed, you will receive a registration number from the TSSA. This number can then be provided to the fuel oil distributor to avoid uninterrupted fuel oil supply.

Aboveground VS Underground

Depending on your tank and location, there may be different regulations for your system. Firstly to avoid confusion, the TSSA has outlined the definition of both aboveground and underground tanks.

Aboveground Tank– “means a tank that is installed at or above grade level within a building or within a secondary containment, but does not include a tank that is in direct contact with backfill material”.

Free standing fuel oil tanks in basements that are not in direct contact with backfill material are considered, by the TSSA, as above ground tanks.

Underground Tank– “means a buried tank or partially buried tank that is in direct contact with earth or backfill”.

The TSSA does not consider fuel oil tanks that are in basements to be underground tanks unless they are in direct contact with backfill material.

Now that you have identified which tank you own, be sure you keep in the loop with all the appropriate regulations for that unit. Underground systems have more strict guidelines within the TSSA, and it is important that you follow them.

Your Underground Oil Tank is not Being Used Anymore

If your oil tank has not been used in two years or more, is located underground, and you have no intention of ever using it again, it must be removed as soon as you are able. This is not just a recommendation but rather, a regulation enforced by the TSSA. This was put into place to ensure that the amount of environmental damage from fuel oil leaks can be kept to a minimum.

Oftentimes, homeowners have no idea they have a tank hidden away underneath their home. If a leaking tank was left neglected for a number of years, the damage would be tremendous and difficult to repair. This is why the TSSA has expectations put in place to avoid as much damage as possible, and ensure that homeowners are being diligent with maintaining their tank.

Underground Tank Removal Requirements

In addition to removal due to lack of use, you are also required to remove your tank if it is 25 years old or more as of October 2001. If you are unable to tell the age of your oil tank for any reason, you are expected to assume it has exceeded the removal age, and have it withdrawn from service and removed or replaced.

When it is time to arrange your oil tank removal, it must be removed by a TSSA registered fuel oil contractor with a Petroleum Equipment Mechanic license. Once the tank has been removed, the TSSA must be notified, and the property owner must have an Environmental Assessment Report completed by a professional. If a leak of fuel oil is confirmed during this process, then the Spill Action Center of the Ministry of Environment must be notified.

Waterline Environmental is TSSA, PM2 and PM3 licensed as well as environmentally insured as a member of the Ontario Petroleum Contractors’ Association. As experts in our field, we are equipped to assist our clients from the beginning to the end of the process from quoting, to removal, as well as soil remediation afterwards. Our goal is always to ensure that our clients are in compliance with all TSSA regulations from our first discussion to our last visit.

Oil Tank Maintenance

In effort to ensure that you meet all the requirements set out by the TSSA, you are also expected to have your oil tank professionally maintained annually. This maintenance should be in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, to guarantee your specific unit is properly cared for. This yearly inspection focuses on the function of the oil tank, and the assurance that it is performing correctly.

In addition to annual maintenance, you must also complete a more comprehensive inspection every ten years. This inspection focuses more on ensuring that the oil tank meets all the TSSA code and regulations.

Contact the Waterline Environmental Team

While assuming responsibility over a fuel oil tank may seem like an overwhelming process, there are a few key points to keep in mind. Ensuring your tank is registered, annually maintained, and removed if required based on TSSA guidelines.

Should you require a removal or soil remediation, contact our team at Waterline Environmental. We are Canadian owned and operated, and take great pride on our workmanship, believing in a hands-on approach. Our team is thorough, concise and efficient in our process. Ensuring your tank is removed properly, and with care is our number one priority.

December 9, 2020 by Waterline Environmental

Oil Tanks vs. Natural Gas: Which Home Energy Option is the Most Environmentally Friendly?

How your home is heated may not be high on your list of considerations, but it is certainly something worth thinking about, especially if you are looking to purchase a home or do some upgrades to your current property.

While oil tanks may be considered an out-dated technology, it is still a home-heating option, particularly in older model homes in downtown Toronto and other historic neighbourhoods in and around the GTA.

So, should you be looking for a home with an oil tank or requesting natural gas? Well, there are a few factors to consider:

Which heating system has a smaller carbon footprint?

The short answer is natural gas. However, as fossil fuel must be extracted from the earth, CO2 emissions from combustions from homes and tailpipes don’t tell the whole story.

The drilling, extraction, and transportation of natural gas results in the loss of some leaked gas, known as “fugitive” methane emissions. These emissions range from one to nine percent of total life cycle emissions. Thus, for natural gas to have less of an impact on the environment than oil, fugitive methane emissions must be low, typically less than three per cent.

With new technologies developed every day, fugitive methane emissions are much lower than those from coal and oil and continue to drop.

Which one is more expensive

There is no doubt that natural gas costs significantly less than oil for heating a home. Additionally, natural gas is still a locally sourced fossil fuel (within North America), which means prices are not forecasted to fluctuate greatly any time in the foreseeable future.

On the other hand, oil has seen an almost 80% increase in pricing over the past two years, thanks mainly to continued tensions in the Middle East and demand.

Does one or the other affect renovation costs?

Maintenance for a natural gas furnace, such as replacing a filter, is a relatively low cost. However, when it comes time to replace your furnace, you will be looking at paying anywhere from $2,150 to over $5,000, which is not a minor expense.

In contrast, oil tanks must be inspected every year, which on average costs about $300. If underground oil tank removal is required, it can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $5,000. So, in the sense of maintenance and replacements, oil tanks and furnaces are reasonably close in costs.

The unexpected cost to keep in mind is if an underground oil tank leaks. If your oil tank is leaking into the surrounding earth, you will be facing soil remediation costs as well as possibly paying some hefty fines for contamination. In this regard, natural gas is a much cheaper option for home heating.

Do You Have a Buried Oil Tank on Your Property?

If you have questions about oil tank removal, or if you are wondering if there is a buried oil tank on your property, call the experts at Waterline Environmental today for an inspection!

To learn more about our oil tank removal service, contact us today or visit our FAQ page.

December 9, 2020 by Waterline Environmental

Old Neighbourhoods in the Greater Toronto Area that may have Underground Oil Tanks

Old homes can have a lot of appeals; they are charming, located in mature neighbourhoods and full of history. In the City of Toronto and its surrounding areas, there are a number of these neighbourhoods, all with their distinct culture and heritage.

Did you know that if your house was built before 1982 then chances are you probably have an old and leaky oil tank on your property? This means your oil tank is most likely not up to code.

Let's take a look at some old residential neighbourhoods in the Greater Toronto Area that may have underground oil tanks:

1. Brampton

Brampton has a rich history. Some communities have been around since 1815; that's 200 years ago!

Nelson Street West

Nelson Street West was established in the mid-19th century, and now you'll find detached houses, a few semi-detached houses, and most likely, some underground oil tanks as well.

Four Corners

The Four Corners is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Brampton and was founded in 1830! In 1867, civic buildings and homes were built, and underground oil tanks were most likely installed and later forgotten.

Unfortunately, if you believe that your property does have an underground water tank, you cannot remove it yourself. This is where Waterline Environmental comes into play! To learn more about an oil tank removal situation, please reach out to us at 905-876-8298.

2. Mississauga

Mississauga was founded in 1974, and it has grown to become Canada's 6th largest city, with some 'villages' still existing today!

Streetsville

One of these villages is the lovely town of Streetsville. Most of Streetsville was built in the 1950s to 1970s, and as you can imagine from those time frames, you can expect that oil tanks were the most common method used for heating your home.

Also, in the 1970s and 1980s, there was vast development around the North and Southside of the credit river. These homes are beautiful and have great views of the river, but if you want to sell your home, you may be surprised to find out you have the responsibility of removing your underground oil tank before selling.

If you currently live in Streetsville and want to know if you have an underground oil tank, you can contact us to receive a free inspection!

3. Toronto, Ontario

As one might expect from a multicultural city like Toronto, the city is a mosaic of diverse neighbourhoods, each with its charm, style, and you bet it: age. If you live in one of the older communities, built before the 1980s, then you may have an oil tank and not know it!

Forest Hill

Forest Hill is home to Matt's Sundin, Ted Rogers and Drake, just to name a few. It’s also one of Toronto's older neighbourhoods. Around 2017, approximately 25 to 30 per cent of the Forest Hill homes were torn down and remodelled. What about the rest of the homes built between the 1920s and 1940s? Our question is, have they removed their underground oil tanks?

The Annex

Featuring large Victorian and Edwardian homes, The Annex is mainly residential, with homes built between 1880 and the early 1900s. With its 19th-century style, the homes in this community have a distinctly Toronto flair, with many notable families, including the Eatons, having lived here over the years.

While these homes are beautiful, many of them are very old. Our oil tank removal specialists have removed many buried oil tanks in The Annex over the years. If you live in an old home here and see signs of a buried oil tank, don’t delay and get it removed sooner rather than later.

Fun Fact: The John Cox Cottage, at 469 Broadview Avenue, was built in 1807 and is the oldest known house in the city. Believe it or not, it is still used as his residence! Should someone call him about his underground oil tank removal, or should we?

4. Hamilton, Ontario

Next up on the docket is Hamilton. It is home to approximately 740,000 residents and growing rapidly.

Sulphur Springs

Sulphur Springs would be one of the older hamilton areas, with houses dating back to over 100 years. Vintage is great and all until you stumble upon an old, unused and leaking oil tank.

Parkview Heights

Parkview Heights is another beautiful neighbourhood with homes built primarily in the 1980s and a perfect example of a community where residents may get blindsided with severe delays in selling their homes because of an underground oil tank.

To learn more about what may be involved in your oil tank removal situation, reach out to us at 905-876-8298. We provide free consultations!

5. Kitchener, Ontario

Last but not least, we have the lovely City of Kitchener, Ontario. There are many beautiful neighbourhoods in Kitchener, but are residents aware that they may be living above an oil tank that could be leaking and contaminating the soil and groundwater on their property?

Alpine

For example, the town of Alpine is a small and affordable neighbourhood in Kitchener, but most of the houses were built between 1960 and 1990.

Heritage Park

Another neighbourhood that comes to mind is Heritage Park. Construction in the area dates from the 1960s to 1970s.

Stanley Park

Stanley Park is another old Kitchener community, one more mature when compared to the other two. Newer homes in this area were built between the mid-1950s and 1970s, and for many, costly cleanup and potential fines may be right around the corner.

Contact the Residential Oil Tank Experts at Waterline Environmental

If you live in any of these areas or are curious about whether or not you require residential oil tank removal services, then contact the certified professionals at Waterline Environmental today!

We will provide you with a firm quote and keep you informed during the entire oil tank removal process.

President: S.A. (Stu) Ferguson
Email: waterline@idirect.com
Direct: 905-876-8298
Office: 855-333-6604

April 3, 2020 by Waterline Environmental

3 Reasons Why You Need To Remove An Oil Tank Before Moving

So, you’re getting ready to sell your old vintage house, and you’re confident it will sell quickly. After all, what’s not to love? The charm, the history… the oil tank buried in the back yard.

In the olden days, homes used underground oil storage tanks with furnace oil, instead of natural gas, to heat their homes. In fact, if your house was built before 1982, chances are you may have an underground oil tank on your property and not even know about it!

As homeowners moved on to more modern forms of heating their homes, the oil tanks remained buried in their backyards, old and forgotten. Unfortunately, this does not bode well for your potential sale as the longer you keep the oil tanks in the ground, the higher the chance for soil and groundwater contamination.

1. Time Is Money

Once you discover an underground oil tank on your property, it becomes your legal obligation to either remove it or disclose it. If you chose not to remove a tank, you will ultimately be drastically shrinking your list of potential buyers, and the longer your house sits on the market, the more it will cost you.

2. You Could End Up Paying Litigation Costs

If your sell your house without disclosing an underground oil tank, you may still end up covering all the costs involved in removing it for the new owners, as well as potentially paying damages and litigation costs, which could run upwards of $10,000.

For real estate agents, it’s equally important for find trusted oil tank removal partners to protect your reputation as an agent and help your buyers and seller close deals.

3. Buyers Beware

If you’re hoping to sell to a builder to avoid negotiations with a buyer, you may end up costing yourself more money, as having an oil tank on the property can make builders weary. There are many factors in an oil tank removal that can be quite stressful to take on, and a purchaser can use that to their advantage.

In many cases, the sale of a property with an underground oil tank results in a sale price that is drastically reduced, as the purchaser can argue that the maximum possible costs should be covered. This could result in anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000 being taken off the list price, and while there are extreme projects that can amount to this, we find that most of our jobs do not even come close to this cost.

Protect the value of your home, and get the experts at Waterline Environmental to remove your residential oil tanks.

Removing An Underground Oil Tank

To avoid a stressful, messy, and expensive situation, we recommend removing an oil tank from your property as soon at it’s discovered. The longer a tank is left untreated, the more likely it is that it will rust and leak oil into the soil, resulting in soil contamination and further soil remediation and/or foundational underpinning to return the site to its natural, healthy state.

Contact Us Today!

If you suspect you have an underground oil tank on your property, call the certified professionals at Waterline Environmental today.

President: S.A. (Stu) Ferguson
Email: waterline@idirect.com
Direct: 905-876-8298
Office: 855-333-6604
Fax: 519-856-2149

February 13, 2020 by Waterline Environmental

What’s The Difference Between Underground and Above Ground Oil Tank Removal?

Better yet, what is the difference between an underground oil tank and an above one?

Aboveground Storage Tanks

An above ground oil tank is, well, above ground. These aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) are more often used for industrial oil storage, although some can be used for residential purposes, and are easier to maintain and test for leakage.

Removing An Aboveground Oil Tank

Aboveground tank removal is a much more straightforward process than dealing with an underground tank, however it still requires specialized tools and equipment which are only available to professionals that are TSSA certified, so this is no DIY job!

What Are The Steps For Removal?

First, we prepare the tank for pumping and flushing.
Next, we pump, flush the tank, and take purge and crimp out and remove the feeder lines.
We cut, if necessary, and remove the tank and piping from the property.
Concrete patch exterior wall where the fill and vent penetrated.
Provide letter stating tank was removed by licensed contractor.

Underground Storage (Oil) Tanks

An Underground Storage Tank (UST) is a container that is buried and contains fuel oil to be used in appliances, such as furnaces and boilers. These tanks tend to be a much higher risk to have on your property, because of the difficulty in detecting a leak, which you would be liable for.

Removing an Underground Oil Tank

Removing an underground oil tank is far more complicated due to the (a) fact that it’s underground, and (b) it is much more likely to have leaks than an aboveground tank.

Steps to Remove an Underground Oil Tank

Hand-dig to confirm locations of any services that run close to the tank (Hydro, gas, etc)
Excavate over the tank and store soil on site for backfill
Cut open the tank and remove all remaining liquid and sludge
Remove the tank from the ground and inspect for corrosive failure
A professional Geoscientist will be on site to observe the removal and secure soil samples for lab analysis
Backfill the tank nest with excavate and clean soils
Dispose of the tank and associated piping to a registered recycler
Remove fill and vent from the building perimeter
Remove supply and return piping from inside the house and patch with quick set concrete
Provide a report all to the Ministry of Environment and Energy and TSSA code compliance

Contact Waterline Environmental Today!

Waterline Environmental is pleased to serve a wide geographic area within Ontario including Toronto (GTA), Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Guelph, Cambridge, Kitchener, Mississauga, Brampton, Brantford, Barrie, and Collingwood.

Email: waterline@idirect.com

Direct: 905-876-8298