The Importance of Checking Spill Buckets

Written by: Brian Pottebaum, Director of Training Services

Check your spill buckets.

Petroleum releases may occur when fuel is delivered to an underground storage tank, but proper maintenance and inspection of your spill bucket and components can be a major factor in preventing a release.

Federal law requires that spill buckets be inspected every 30 days for most UST systems. During the inspection you should also inspect the fill pipe adaptor to ensure a delivery hose can make a tight connection during a fuel delivery.  A loose adapter can allow fuel to leak into the spill bucket or worse it may allow fuel to spray outside of the spill bucket or overfill the spill bucket. 

During the 30 day walk through inspection, the trained technician should

• look for, remove, and properly dispose of liquid or debris found in the bucket;
• look for any obstructions in the fill pipe and make sure the shutoff valve (if that is your overfill protection method) has not been disabled;
• inspect the fill pipe adapter to ensure a tight connection can be made during delivery;
• inspect the fill pipe cap to make sure there is a tight seal when the cap is put back on;
• look for cracks or other damage that may indicate the bucket is not liquid tight.  

The 30 day walk through inspections are not only required by federal law, they are a very important tool in preventing releases and ultimately expensive cleanup.  It is your responsibility to make sure your system is functioning properly.