Cleaner ground for home owners 

It is generally the home owner who discovers the leak because the tank has run dry despite having been filled no more than a month ago.

"If the oil spillage is discovered early there is much we can do to remedy the situation," says Peter Bønløkke Adamsen, project manager at COWI.

Some 900 home owners have had oil leaks cleaned up

COWI has been providing a consultancy service from the beginning, in 1993, when the OM began cleansing decommis-sioned petrol stations.

Five years ago, the OMentered into an agreement with the insurance company Topdanmark Forsikring, as a result of which 900 home owners have had oil spills cleaned up. Of these cases, COWI’s services have been called upon in some 150 in the counties of Fyn and Frederiksborg .

"With domestic properties, as opposed to old filling stations, prompt action in terms of cleansing is all-important, so we do our utmost to provide rapid service,” says Peter Bønløkke Adamsen.

Previously, home owners themselves had to meet the costs directly, and these could run into several hundred thousand kroner. Today, this is taken care of under a compulsory insurance scheme which involves an excess of two thousand kroner.

Insignificant residual spillage

"The tricky part of clean-ups is the location of the tanks, which are often in cellars or close to the house, which makes it difficult to dig out the contamination ".

On the initial visit COWI assesses the extent of the contamination and the appropriate remedial action. The solution varies from case to case.

"Of course it’s also a question of cost, and we always have to consider the most economical way of getting the job done. This may in some cases mean that we cannot remove all of the contamination, particularly if it’s close to or under the house. But the only permissible residue is that which threatens neither use of the land nor the water table. So in those cases where there is residual contamination, it is environmentally insignificant," says Peter Bønløkke Adamsen.

Houses must come down

Peter B. Adamsen has come across a few extreme cases where the house has had to be bought and demolished to allow the site to be cleansed.

But even though it involves a risk of having to take such extreme measures, he sees the insurance scheme as beneficial for home owners.

"People are no longer afraid to report any leaks, and in addition the problem is tackled quickly. Before, it was up to home owners themselves, together with the local authority, to take action in the event of an oil spill. Today, home owners receive a post-decontamination report detailing actions taken and giving confirmation that any residual contamination is risk-free".

By Gitte Petersen

Published: 04.05.2005