Can a Well Contaminated With Fuel Oil Be Cleaned?

The source of drinking water of millions of households depends on private wells. However, when a substance as dangerous as fuel oil spills into your potable water? It is a horrifying situation - and, alas, it is not exceptional. Storage tanks, leakages, or spills or unsuitable disposal may all cause a well to contaminate with fuel oil.

The big question therefore is; Is it possible to clean a well contaminated with fuel oil? The answer to this question is yes, however, it is not a simple one. The process of cleaning up a contaminated well is complicated and can only be assisted by professionals, who have to be patient and take a long-term viewpoint that will avoid recontamination of the well.

In this paper, we will deconstruct:

● What leads to fuel oil pollution?

● The environmental and health hazards

● How to detect contamination

● Procedures of cleaning a polluted well

● Long-term safety and prevention measures.

What Is Fuel Oil and How Does It Contaminate Wells?

What Is Fuel Oil?

Fuel oil is a petroleum derivative that is used to heat houses and power machinery.

It includes:

● Diesel fuel

● Heating oil (No. 2 fuel oil)

● Kerosene.

These products are produced using crude oil and are very toxic when ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

How Does It Enter a Well?

Fuel oil may enter a well in a number of different ways:

● Underground storage tanks (USTs) leakages.

● Spills during fuel delivery.

● Inadequacy in the disposal of fuel around the well.

● Exudates of polluted soil.

● Leaking piping or oil lines around the well casing.

Fuel oil is lighter than water and hence it is floating on the water. Nonetheless, it may still infiltrate into the ground and pollute the surrounding wells.

Health and Environmental Risks of Fuel Oil Contamination

Health Risks

It is very dangerous to drink the fuel oil-contaminated water.

It can cause:

● Headaches

● Nausea and vomiting

● Liver and kidney damage

● Nervous system effects

● Long-term exposure can increase risk of cancer.

Pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable.

Environmental Impact

The fact that wells are polluted is an indication of a bigger problem to the environment:

● Groundwater contamination

● Soil degradation

● Damage to the local wildlife and plants

● Extreme fire or explosion possibilities.

How to Know if Your Well Is Contaminated

Signs of Fuel Oil Contamination

Here are some warning signs:

● Powerful fuel or oily smell of faucets.

● Water is strangely flavored (bitter or chemical).

● Slickness or pebbleness of the water.

● Post-drinking of the water health symptoms.

● Abrupt variations in the water pressure or clarity.

When you think there is contamination, then you should cease using the water and use the local health department or environmental agency.

Water Testing

Fuel oil contamination cannot always be seen or smelt. Testing is essential.

Who Should Test the Water?

● Certified labs of water testing.

● Environmental consultants.

● Health departments on state or county level.

Tests should screen for:

● Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

● Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH)

● Benzene, ethyl benzene, toluene and xylene (compounds of BTEX).

Can a Fuel Oil Contaminated Well Be Cleaned?

Yes - But It's Complicated

It is possible to clean a polluted well, but it is a complicated process that requires the involvement of many agencies.

The clean-up process is based on:

● How much oil leaked

● How long it's been present

● The geology of the area

● The drilling and form of the well

Step-by-Step Cleanup Process

Stop the Source of Contamination

● Determine and eliminate the source of fuel (leaking tank, pipeline, etc.)

● In case it is an underground tank, it has to be emptied, cleaned or removed.

Notify Authorities

● Get in touch with your state environmental protection agency.

● Submit incident reports where necessary.

● They can offer both technical and financial support.

Hire Environmental Cleanup Professionals

Do not hand clean the well yourself.

Special equipment is applied by professionals to:

● Pump off and eliminate polluted water

● Excavate contaminated soil

● Install monitoring wells.

Clean and Treat the Well

● Shock chlorination can also be employed, only not fuel oil.

● VECs are usually treated using activated carbon filters and air strippers.

● In the worst scenario, the well will be capped and replaced.

Test Again and Monitor

● Re-test water on an interval basis for several months.

● Keep on testing within a year of cleanup.

What If the Well Can’t Be Saved?

In case the contamination is too pronounced or the well cannot be decontaminated:

● This could require you to drill another well that is further than the contaminated location.

● Hook up to municipal water supply provided.

● Install a whole-house filtration system as a stop-gap measure.

Preventing Future Contamination

Tips for Well Owners

● Check oil tanks on a regular basis to identify leakages or rust.

● Store sources of fuel at least 100 feet away.

● Do not dispose of fuel, paint or chemicals on the floor.

● Install second containment of tanks.

● Have your well water tested once a year even when it appears to be okay.

Know Your Local Laws

All of the states possess varied rules regarding well safety and underground storage tanks.

Be sure to:

● Adhere to local standards of well construction and maintenance.

● Report spills immediately

● The environmental agency of your state will provide advice.