HOUSEHOLDERS are being urged by Stroud District Council to check their domestic heating oil storage tanks due to a rise in leakage incidents.
Spilt oil from damaged tanks can contaminate the ground around and under homes, harm wildlife, and pollute rivers and water supplies.
Clean-up costs can run into tens of thousands of pounds and not all such events are covered by household insurance.
SDC and the Environment Agency are finding themselves investigating an increasing number of leaking tanks, often old steel tanks that have rusted.
Jon Beckett, the head of environmental health at SDC, said: "In the recent cold spell we all became aware of how vital it is that our heating systems are working correctly.
"Householders need to ensure that their tanks and pipework are in a good state of repair to avoid causing environmental problems as well as the expense associated with the loss of oil and potential clean-up work."
An advisory leaflet is available by calling SDC on 01453 754478 or visiting http://bit.ly/oiltanks
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