Nick Caltabiano, General Manager at environmental consulting firm NEO Consulting, provides environmental due diligence to service stations, banks, developers, and other land buyers across Greater Sydney and New South Wales. Nick shares his advice on why a firm understanding of the environmental health of your service station site is essential when it comes to protecting your asset and preventing avoidable costs.
Beneath every service station lies the heart of the operation, the underground storage system. It works silently in the background, holding thousands of litres of fuel. But what happens when this system starts to fail without anyone noticing?
Tank and line integrity testing is one of the most critical environmental safeguards for petrol station owners. It ensures your underground petroleum storage system is secure, leak-free, and legally compliant. More importantly, it protects your business from significant environmental damage and financial risk.
What Is Tank Integrity Testing?
Tank integrity testing is the process of verifying whether your underground fuel tanks and associated pipework are structurally sound and not leaking. These tests are designed to detect very small losses of fuel, well before any visible signs of contamination appear on the surface.
The testing process typically includes:
- Visual inspection of the fuel system
- Pressure and or Vacuum integrity testing of the underground tanks, product lines and vapour system.
- Monitoring equipment calibration and verification
- Leak detection system checks
- Review of maintenance history and documentation
Some systems also include automatic monitoring technology, but physical testing remains the gold standard for accuracy and peace of mind.
Why It Should Not Be Overlooked
Fuel leaks are not always dramatic or obvious. A slow, steady leak of a few litres per week may go unnoticed for months. But over time, that can lead to significant contamination of soil and groundwater, triggering environmental reporting obligations, EPA intervention, and costly remediation works.
Regular tank testing gives you confidence that your systems are operating as expected. If a leak is detected, early intervention can reduce both the size of the contamination and the clean-up bill.
NEO Consulting often supports operators who are only made aware of tank issues during site investigations for finance or sale. In these cases, failure to conduct regular testing has delayed transactions, triggered lender concerns, and driven up costs.
How Often Should You Test?
The frequency of tank and line testing depends on your system type, local regulations, risk factors and the age of your equipment.
NEO Consulting recommends the following approach:
- Daily monitoring of SIRA
- Routine biannual investigation of ground water quality within onsite monitoring wells (both tank pit observation wells and ground water wells)
- Additional testing if changes are made to your fuel system
- Immediate testing if fuel losses are suspected
The goal is to maintain a strong record of due diligence, so you are always prepared for audits, finance applications, or regulatory inspections.
NEO’s Role in Protecting Your Site
NEO Consulting delivers professional tank and line testing services to ensure compliance with NSW standards. Their team provides comprehensive reporting, expert advice, and support if further investigation or remediation is required.
Tank integrity testing is not just a regulatory task, it is an investment in the future of your business. By identifying risks early, you avoid surprises, protect your land value, and demonstrate your commitment to safe and responsible site management.
For the latest retailer news and information, check out the ServoPro website or to speak to us about how we can help your business contact us.