When your fuel customers stop to fill their tanks at your gas station, they expect that gas to get them to where they need to go. As a gas station owner, it’s then your responsibility to ensure that their expectations are met.
And how do you ensure that?
By selling them uncontaminated gasoline, free of water and sediments, with the right octane rating.
Unfortunately, though, many gas stations across the country are failing to provide their customers with clean gas.
Last month, The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services received multiple complaints from drivers against a Jupiter gas station, which was selling contaminated fuel to customers.
Similar reports surfaced at different stations in North Carolina as well, prompting the state inspectors to conduct a large-scale investigation earlier this year.
Premium fuel brands also appear to be gripped by bad gas problems. In August, a Shell Station in Santa Clarita found traces of water in its underground storage tank.
As the number of cases for fuel-site water intrusion increases in the country, a debate has stirred up that whether gas station owners need to be more vigilant about maintaining and monitoring fuel quality at their respective sites.
The changes in fuel chemistry, fuel distribution structure and installation methods for UST systems have all made modern day gas stations increasingly susceptible to water contamination issues. As such, station owners can’t afford even the slightest negligence in facility upkeep and operational monitoring.
Fuel retailers must follow standard protocols as laid out under local, state and federal regulations. They must also satisfy minimum fuel quality requirements. Additionally, here are a few things they should do to help prevent the distribution of the contaminated fuel at their gas station:
- Use particulate removing, waster sensing and phase separation detection filters to contain the contaminated fuel
- If water intrusion is detected, immediately shut the dispensers down and halt the operations
- Contact a UST compliance company to have the site inspected for the source of the problem
Don’t let your fuel customers down; take fuel contamination seriously.
John W. Kennedy Company is your trusted gas station equipment and essentials supplier. We’ve been serving the U.S gas stations and convenience stores since 1930. Visit our online store to learn more about our products and services.