SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Richard Parisella used to dread the spring thaw because it signalled the beginning of fuel oil spill season.
Jason Langer, from Central Mechanical Systems, stands next to a single-walled fuel tank. New tanks must be double-walled. - Cody Punter/NNSL
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“Normally at this time of the year, with the snow already starting to melt, we'll have a few already," said the general manager at Northern Disaster Services, a company which cleans up spills from fuel oil tanks.
However, this spring has brought a pleasant surprise.
“This year I don't have any yet,” Parisella said.
Ever since a new law came into effect, Parisella has noticed a sharp decline in the number of spills from fuel oil tanks across the city.
“To be honest, in the last two years it's getting less and less,” he said.
A change to the Fire Code of Canada, which was adopted by the NWT Office of the Fire Marshal in the summer of 2010, means that all fuel tanks installed after July 1, 2010 must be double-walled and be equipped with a leak indicator.
Insurance companies are also pushing for homeowners to upgrade older fuel lines to flexible versions, replacing a more rigid type used previously.
One of the reasons for the drop in oil leaks is that lots of homeowners have been changing their tanks since the law came into place, according to one company which sells and installs fuel oil tanks.
"Last year we were really busy changing tanks," said Jason Langer of Hearth & Home Central Mechanical Systems.
Langer added that a new tank can cost between $3,500 and $5,000, depending on the model and the installation.
The main cause of leaks is the inevitable accumulation of water in the tank. “You always have a bit of water in your tank. The fuel is lighter than the water, and the water goes to the bottom of the tank. That's what makes your tank rot,” said Parisella.
Most leaks go unnoticed during the colder months because in “the winter time, the water at the bottom of the tank freezes, and it plugs the holes.” But as temperatures rise and the sun comes out “it thaws out the ice at the bottom of the tank,” leading them to leak.
Although people who bought a house before July 1, 2010 are not required by law to upgrade their tanks, taking a precaution before a spill happens can avoid a potential disaster.
“Sometimes the fuel goes on the neighbour's property,” Parisella said. “It goes underneath the house and you have to dig right underneath the foundation.”
On top of the environmental damage that a spill can cause, they can come with a hefty price tag.
"I saw oil spills cost from $20,000 up to $1,000,000," said Parisella.
Despite the decline in the number of leaks in previous years, Parisella urges homeowners to check for signs to prevent a small spill from becoming a disaster.
"When the snow is melting you can smell the fuel," he said. "The snow is bit of a yellow colour.”
His final words of advice is for homeowners who have Tidy brand name tanks, which can be identified by the raised double "T" on top of the tank. Parisella said they account for 70 per cent of the spills he has seen over the years.
“Whoever has a Tidy tank, they should replace it right away,” Parisella said.
