The Water Intrusion Dilemma for Station Owners and Contractors

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Oh Vey!!!  Another sump and spill bucket water alarm goes off after a big rain or snow melt means another phone call from the gas station to the contractor. Unfortunately for the station owner, this means unwanted money spent on removal, storage, transporting and disposal of Petroleum Contact Water or PCW.  Additional headaches for the station owner include

1. The Vac Truck or Service Van takes up valuable room need for paying customers
2. Greater chances of water entering the tanks which means more parts and labor spent on changing filters
3.  Answering to state fuel quality standards under the “clear and bright” test should fuel be shown to be “cloudy.”

 

​In the old days, station owners could just pump the water out and pour into the flower bed.  But have many stations have learned the hard way…….contaminated flower beds and the soil underneath the beds is not only bad news from state environmental regulators, but big money when it comes time for an environmental assessment from banks and property owners.  Additionally, many states a local government flat out forbid this practice and heavy fines or citations can be issued.  If one takes a look at the EPA standard - 40 CFR Part 280, there is a specific section, 280.36, which states containment sumps and spill buckets shall be kept free of liquid and debris. And for those who inspect and maintain such equipment, they must make notes if liquid and debris are present.
 
To reduce these problems, today’s savvy station owners are upgrading lids, leveling parking lots, raising concrete and containment areas, building new fuel pads etc. to combat water intrusion.  That is great if the station has plenty of money, but even still, mother nature can wreak havoc.  Fortunately, there is new technology from Steel Camel in the forms of water blocking gels, doughs and impregnated gaskets that offers a new and safe method to block water. The products are easily and safely applied by hand, and also easy to dispose of.  This technology allows station owners either to have trained employees apply the product, or hire the service contractor supplying 30-day inspection services to apply the product.

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But What About the Contractors Who Make Money Removing, Storing, Transporting and Disposing of Water?
 
Yes, there are some really good and reputable service and environmental companies that do a great job of removing, hauling and properly disposing water.  Some make over $1.75 a gallon and have minimum charges of $600.00, and up to $800.00 in large metropolitan areas.  While this may look good to the contractor from a billing standpoint,  there are several problems with this model.  Let’s take a look at just a few: 

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1. Wear and Tear on the Truck and Transmission:…….who wants to drive around with 1500 lbs. of sloshing liquid.  And who wants to climb hills or offramps with this amount of weight, not to mention the extra weight wears our brakes.

 

1. DOT Permits.  Since contractors are hauling a regulated hazardous substance, DOT permits are required for all drivers. Additionally, with DOT and other state environmental regulations, contractors have to keep proper paperwork on file, and this takes up valuable time.

 

1. Unloaded at Contractor’s Facility:  Now that the contractor has removed the fuel and put in their truck, they have to unload at their facility into a regulated storage tank…….this takes up both valuable time, which often times could be better spent servicing customers.  Not to mention the paperwork.

 

1. Storage:  while storing 3 -10,000 gallons of used / contaminated oil and fuels, might not be a big deal to contractors, it can be a very big deal to the landowner and property insurance companies.  Often times and extra fee for risks is accessed to the contractor.

 
 

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​So… What Is The Answer for Contractors……….to pick up or block the water?
Since the implementation of EPA 40 CFR 280 standard and the introduction of Steel Camel water blocking technology, many of today’s savvy contractors are finding it more economical and a lot less headaches to provide blocking products and services rather remove and haul services.  This is particularly true for those contractors who perform a) 30 day inspections, and b) see value in selling products off the truck during the service calls or inspections.  And example of this is a contractor who see’s current and forecasted rain and they know they won’t be returning for 30 days, they sell a few tubes of Steel Camel AquaBlok Gel to Independent owners and operator who are willing to take 15 minutes to apply the product in exchange for no alarms going off and no bills for removal and disposal.
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For more information and the Steel Camel guide to blocking water, please contact 813-877-4665.