A Safety Guide To Managing Fuel Storage After Hurricane Irma

Fuel StoragesIf left unattended, a flooded underground fuel storage tank can be a grave environmental liability. To protect the tank owners and their property from their probable health impact, corroded or leaky storage tanks need to be repaired or removed.

Is your fuel storage tank system one of the many things Hurricane Irma left asunder?

Below listed are some measures that can be taken to help it become functional again.

Before the System Startup

  • Ensure that the power to pumps, fuel dispensers or any other tank equipment is switched off.
  • Check areas around the tank for any possible leakages. Make sure you don’t leave out the pump sumps, or the secondary and under-dispenser containments.
  • Look closely. Do you see signs for a damaged tank cover pad? If yes, it’s advisable that you get a tank contractor to inspect it.
  • Use a gauge-stick or water-finding paste to detect water in your fuel storage tank.
  • If your tank is filled with gasoline blended with ethanol and you detect traces of water in it, you might as well run a fuel test in order to ensure that it still meets quality standards.
  • Turn the power on if you find nothing wrong with the tank’s electrical system. If there’s something alarming, get in touch with an electrician or a tank contractor.
  • Inspect valves, switches, relays, leak detection system, and all other pump equipment to ascertain they are undamaged and in a working condition.
  • Empty the sumps of possible fuel spills and clean them. Also, check all the fittings and pipelines. Do you find any damages? Are they leaking?
  • If you are still unsure about the tightness of the tank system, carry out a test before adding any more fuel to it.

Upon System Startup

  • As long as you do not detect a leaking tank system, it’s okay to return it to service, even if the leak detection system needs repair.
  • In case of a damaged leak detection system, keep track of inventory control on a daily basis. This includes tank’s contents’ measurements done manually, recording the amount of fuel pumped, and testing the presence of water at the bottom of the tank. Better yet, seek assistance from a leading fuel management systemprovider to guide you through the calibration procedures.
  • In the event of an inventory loss or a persistent collection of water, let the system be out-of-service. Meanwhile, perform a test to ensure your tank’s tightness.

Do you need help fixing your underground petroleum and chemical storage tanks? Are you considering replacing it with a new one? Contact John W. Kennedy today. We look forward to providing the best possible solution to you.

 

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