Residents in Powys are being urged to inspect their heating oil tanks after a rise in spills and pollution incidents.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) have released a warning to urge residents with domestic oil heating tanks to check their condition and make sure they are not leaking or damaged.

The warning comes after a rise in the number of pollution incidents reported to NRW, some of which were traced to leaking heating oil tanks from homes, several of which have been linked to the Llanfair Caereinion and Churchstoke areas.

The main causes of these leaks include outdated single-skin tanks that have deteriorated over time, failures in below-ground pipes, incorrect filling of tanks, and lack of regular maintenance and inspections prior to tank refills.

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Ann Weedy, NRW’s Operations Manager for Mid Wales, emphasised the duty that tank owners have.

“Homeowners who store oil have a legal responsibility to ensure their storage tanks do not cause pollution," she said.

“Despite this, we have seen a spate of incidents caused by faulty tanks. Leaked fuel can severely damage the environment, killing plants, harming wildlife, polluting rivers, and contaminating drinking water.

“It also leads to substantial financial losses for homeowners, who may need to replace the lost oil and cover the high costs of cleaning up an oil spill. We may also take enforcement action where the damage is significant.”

In June 2024, NRW and Mid Wales firefighters were called out to an incident in Llanfair Caereinion, as 30 litres of oil was spilled into the River Banwy.

(Image: NRW)

Fire crews waded into the water and used absorbent mats to contain any contamination to the water under the supervision of a HAZMAT team.

NRW officers visited the site, assessed the situation, took samples and later identified the source of pollution as heating oil lost from a domestic tank.

According to NRW, a telltale sign of a leak is a sudden increase in the volume of oil used and advises people to seek help from a qualified oil heating professional if any issues are suspected.

To help prevent oil spills, NRW recommends ensuring safe tank filling by confirming there is space for the oil and that the delivery driver uses the correct tank fill point, inspecting the tank base or supports for cracks or subsidence, checking all visible pipework, valves, and filters for any damage or signs of leaks, and examining secondary containment for liquid or debris, and ensuring drip trays for remote fill pipes are clear of oil, water, leaves, and rubbish.