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Domestic Oil Spills

Summary

Over the past few years there have been a number of serious domestic oil pollution incidents in the Babergh District.

Incidents of oil pollution can by their nature cause serious environmental damage through the pollution of rivers and groundwater threatening drinking water supplies, fish and other aquatic life, not to mention potentially harming health and property. The investigation and clean up costs can be in excess of £20,000.

The majority of residents who have domestic oil tanks assume that their home insurance policy would cover the clean-up costs following a spill. However, please be aware that this is not always the case. We recommend that households check with their insurance companies to ensure that both the immediate aftermath of an oil leak and the costs of any subsequent site investigations and clean-up are covered.

To help reduce the risk of oil leaks and spills you are advised to:

Regularly check your oil tank and pipes for leaks or corrosion.
If you notice a sudden increase in the amount of oil you are using check for leaks. Even a minor leak can add up to a large loss of fuel over time.
Carefully check your current fuel stock before re-ordering and if possible supervise deliveries.
Ensure your boiler is regularly serviced by an OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association) registered engineer.
Site new fuel tanks away from property boundaries, building openings, drains, streams and ponds. For further advice regarding tank locations contact the Environmental Protection Team using one of the methods below.
If you do have an oil leak or spill at home, try to stop it at the source and use absorbing material such as sand to contain the oil and prevent it from entering drains and waterways.
Never use detergents or a hose to wash away oil.

Pollution incidents should be reported to the appropriate authority (see below) as soon as possible so that effective action can be taken. The emergency services should be contacted where life or property is threatened.

For pollution incidents likely to affect rivers, lakes or groundwater - please report oil spillage on the Environment Agency website or telephone 0800 80 70 60.

For other incidents likely to lead to land contamination - contact Babergh District Council’s Environmental Protection Team on the numbers below.

Additional information is available from the OFTEC website.

Related pages on this website ...

Advice on the Assessment and Remediation of Contaminated Land,

Contaminated Land Introduction,

Contaminated Land Strategy and Register,

Development on Potentially Contaminated Land,

Environmental Searches and Enquiries.

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External links ...

Environment agency

Environment Agency

For pollution incidents likely to affect rivers, lakes or groundwater please contact the Environment Agency.
Oil Pollution on the Environment Agency website.
Report oil spillage on the Environment Agency website.

Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

These pages provide details of Defra's work on contaminated land.
Contaminated land web page

OFTEC

OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association)

OFTEC produces a range of Easy Guides for the householder on subjects such as oil tanks and why you should get your boiler serviced regularly.
OFTEC guides
OFTEC Locate a registered installer webpage

About links to external sites.

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Contact us ...

Team:

Environmental Protection

Web:

online enquiry form

Email:

environmental.protection@babergh.gov.uk

Telephone:

01473 825890

Minicom/textphone:

01473 825878

Fax:

01473 825738

Address:

Babergh District Council
Corks Lane
Hadleigh
IPSWICH
IP7 6SJ

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Last updated on: 19 August 2011 | Date of next review: 19 August 2012

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