How far does a release from an underground storage tank (UST) travel?
The size of the release, soil conditions, and depth to groundwater are some of the major factors that determine whether a release will travel away from the immediate area of the release from a UST system. Generally, if the release is small and doesn’t affect groundwater, there is little chance of “offsite migration.” For larger releases, and where groundwater contamination is significant, the threat of off-site migration increases. According to a study by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the average distance that a large UST release migrates is about 200 feet from the source. Although rare, pollution from petroleum hydrocarbon releases has migrated over 1,000 feet from the UST. Gasoline additives, such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (MtBE) may migrate considerable distances in groundwater and may impact wells located miles downgradient.
Related Questions
- What is required in Kentucky for regulated Underground Storage Tank (UST) owners concerning release reporting and cleanup of petroleum products?
- Do I need to report a release from a Non-Regulated Underground Storage Tank (UST) or an aboveground storage tank (AST)?
- How far does a release from an underground storage tank (UST) travel?
