Underground Storage Tank (UST)

Underground Storage Tank (UST)

Underground Storage Tank (UST): An underground storage tank (UST) is a confined container occupying any volume of space within the subsurface, for the purposes of storing liquid. Underground tanks typically support commercial and residential services and have filling ports, ventilation pipes, and connecting product pipelines. Underground storage tanks (USTs) come in different sizes and are made with various materials (for example- fiberglass, steel, plastic, polymer, or combinations of these in the form of double walling).

Underground Storage Tank Abandonment & Removal Process - Geo Forward
Underground Storage Tank Abandonment & Removal Process – Photo by Geo Forward

Environmental Conditions of Underground Storage Tanks

Commonly, USTs are used to contain hazardous liquids, such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, waste oil, heating oil, etc. As a result, underground tank contamination is a recognized environmental condition. And the underground storage tank removal process entails mandatory environmental compliance. Moreover, modern environmental laws require certain facilities to maintain leak detection systems, vacuum and pressure sensors, and subsurface secondary containment units with USTs to prevent UST soil pollution.

Also See:

Similar Posts

  • Troposphere

    Troposphere Troposphere: The troposphere of a terrestrial planet is the lowest member of the atmosphere. On Earth, the troposphere starts atop the ground surface and terminates roughly 10 kilometers above mean sea level. In fact, geologists understand that most of the Earth’s water vapor (clouds) exists in the troposphere. And the next member of the…

  • Growth Fault

    Growth Fault Growth Fault: In geology, a growth fault is a strike-slip fault or dip-slip fault that moves contemporaneously with deposition. This causes the throw (amount of vertical displacement) to increase with depth and the strata to be thicker on the downthrown side as compared to the upthrown side.

  • Translational Slide Definition

    Translational Slide Landslide Translational Slide: In the seismology branch of geology, a translational slide is a type of landslide movement that occurs predominantly along a planar surface. Alternatively, this movement can occur along gently undulating surfaces. For instance, the Palona Schist metamorphic bedrock on the eastern embankment of the former St. Francis Dam comprises an…

  • Underground Storage Tank Soil Contamination

    Underground Storage Tank Soil Contamination When there’s a problem with contamination from an underground storage tank, local environmental agencies get involved, and a geologist is needed to handle the cleanup. The most common reason for contamination is when an underground storage tank (UST) at a gas station starts leaking. USTs are used to store gasoline,…

  • Transmissivity

    Transmissivity Transmissivity: In geology and hydrogeology, transmissivity (T) represents the capacity of an aquifer to transmit water of the prevailing kinematic viscosity. Formula T=Kb, where b = saturated thickness of the aquifer. Dimensions are gallons per day per foot (gpd/ft) or feet squared per day (ft^2/day).

  • Epicenter

    Epicenter Epicenter: In the seismology branch of geology, an epicenter of an earthquake is the point on Earth’s surface that is directly above the focus (or hypocenter). It is the ground surface location overlying where an earthquake rupture originates within a dip-slip fault or strike-slip fault. Shortly after an earthquake, United States Geological Survey (USGS)…