Old oil tank detection in Châteauguay

Town and country, two types of search

In residential areas, the tank is generally near the foundation, on the side where it was filled. The search focuses on visible clues and a strip along the house.

On a farm property, the situation is different. A tank may have supplied a secondary building or equipment, and may lie farther from the house. The search area is larger and relies more on the property's history.

The regulatory context

Since December 31, 2023, it has been prohibited in Quebec to install an oil-fired heating appliance in an existing building or to replace an oil appliance with a fossil fuel appliance (1). When the regulation was adopted, the government pointed out that heating oil is also a source of soil contamination when leaks occur (2). This risk is often what prompts the search before a sale or work.

What the report contains

• The plan of the scanned area and the position of targets
• The estimated depth to the top and approximate dimensions
• Other structures detected, such as a pit or a sump
• A clear statement if nothing was detected in the area covered

Frequently asked questions

How much area needs to be covered on a rural property? It depends on the clues and the history. Describe the buildings and the former heating method; we will propose a suitable search area.

Can you remove the tank? No. We locate it and document its position for the contractor in charge of the removal and, if needed, the soil characterization.