Removing oil tanks in private land

What is it?

An oil or fuel tank in the ground may rust or leak. This can contaminate the soil. Is there an oil or fuel tank under the ground in your garden? If so, you must report it to the municipality.

Are you no longer using the tank? Then you must have the tank removed by a licensed company. Always have a soil test performed. Are you still using the tank? Then you must have the tank inspected every year.

How does it work?

The disposal obligation does not apply to tanks that were remediated (cleaned) by a Kiwa-approved company before January 1, 1999. The removal obligation also does not apply to tanks that were adequately remediated before March 1, 1993. The municipality may still require you, the owner, to take additional measures. In the past, tanks were not always decontaminated thoroughly.

What to do?

You report to the municipality that there is a tank in your land. Are you not the owner of the ground but the tenant? Then you must report this to the landlord. Always have a soil test done. If the soil is contaminated, you must have it cleaned.

Are you no longer using the tank? Then ask a Kiwa-approved company to remove the tank. The addresses of these companies can be found at www.kiwa.nl. Only if there is no other way is the tank allowed to remain. The Kiwa-approved company will clean and disable the tank.

Do you own and still use the tank? If so, you must have the tank inspected every year. Health also make sure you have insurance against the consequences of soil contamination.

Additional information

How do you find an oil tank in your yard?

  • Clues in your yard include a manhole cover, a copper cap, a vent pipe or strange subsidence. Oil tanks are usually around 1 meter deep.
  • In the basement or crawl space, an unused pipe indicates oil supply. Old oil lines are easy to spot: they are at least twice as thick as gas lines and about 6 inches in diameter.
  • Sometimes your neighbors or former residents know if there is a tank in the yard.
  • Oil dealers usually know which houses used to have oil fires.