Soil sampling is becoming increasingly more important to the fuel industry. Without soil sampling, there is an increased danger to the general public as petroleum products can contaminate neighborhood soils and waterways, posing a huge risk for human health if it interferes with the drinking water. Here are some important facts that you should know about soil sampling if you are the owner of a service station.
What is Petrol Station Soil Sampling?
Petrol Station soil sampling is the scientific process in which a contractor drills into the ground to collect samples and analyse any environmental pollution concerns. Because service stations usually comprise underground storage tanks that hold thousands of litres of fuel, there is the potential for petrol and diesel to leak into the subsurface over a period of time. When this happens, the EPA will usually require clean-up action in a phase known as remediation.
What Are the Steps of Soil Sampling?
Soil sampling follows a specific set of steps to ensure that the process is done correctly and provides the highest level of protection to the public. The steps of soil sampling include:
- Locating where fuel tanks are situated
- Collecting soil borings from several areas surrounding the fuel tank at a depth just past the bottom of the tank
- The soil boring samples are sent to a certified testing lab for analysis and an unbiased and accurate result
- The soil samples are then tested for petroleum product contamination
- The results will be provided and further action recommended
What Are the Main Chemicals of Concern?
There are various chemicals of concern when it comes to soil sampling that you should be aware of. The main chemicals that can cause serious issues are Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes.
Along with these chemicals, the chemicals tertiary butyl alcohol and methyl tertiary-butyl ether are octane-enhancer additives that were a part of the fuel formulas in the 1980s. To analyse soil samplings for any of these chemicals, experts will run laboratory analytics to find total petroleum hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds.
When Should I Have Soil Sampling Conducted?
You should have soil sampling done in the following scenarios:
- When you are buying or selling a business with a underground fuel tanks.
- When an underground fuel tank was abandoned or removed and there is no documentation
- As part of your regular fuel stock reconciliations you notice loss of fuel.
- When instructed by the EPA
ServoPro is here to Help
If you need help and advice regarding getting soil sampling done at your petrol station, contact us. Through ServoPro’s partnership with NEO Consulting we are also able to offer specialist advice and environmental services to ensure you are compliant.