In the City of Barrie and the Municipality of Innisfil, protecting the local environment is a shared responsibility. A dormant oil tank is more than an eyesore; it is a "ticking time bomb" that can lead to severe financial, legal, and environmental consequences if left unaddressed.
1. Environmental Protection for the Lake Simcoe Watershed
Barrie sits on the pristine shores of Kempenfelt Bay. Because Barrie’s terrain often consists of sandy, porous soil, leaked fuel oil can migrate rapidly through the ground and into the water table. This eventually reaches Lake Simcoe, threatening local drinking water and aquatic life.
By professionally removing your unused tank, you eliminate the risk of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs)contaminating our delicate local ecosystem.
2. Insurance Compliance & Real Estate Obstacles
The Insurance Bureau of Canada has implemented increasingly strict guidelines for residential fuel storage. A dormant tank is often viewed as an unmanageable risk:
- Coverage Denials: Most insurers will refuse to cover homes with exterior tanks older than 15 years or interior tanks older than 20 years.
- Selling Your Home: In the Barrie real estate market, most lenders will refuse to approve a mortgage for a property containing an abandoned or unregistered underground tank.
- Financial Liability: A residential oil spill cleanup can easily exceed $100,000. If the tank was dormant or improperly maintained, your insurance provider may legally deny your claim, leaving you with the total cleanup bill.
3. TSSA Compliance and the "3-Year Rule"
Compliance is not optional. Under the most recent TSSA Fuel Oil Code Adoption Document (CAD), specific rules apply to inactive systems:
The 3-Year Rule: Any underground fuel tank that has been inactive for three years or longer is classified as a high-risk non-compliance. Ontario regulations mandate that these systems be professionally removed and the site must be assessed by a licensed technician to ensure no soil contamination has occurred.
Don’t wait for a leak to happen. Ensure your Barrie property is safe, compliant, and ready for the future by booking a professional tank removal today.