Does an Oil Tank Sweep Protect The Buyer From Purchasing a Contaminated Property ?

RUMSON, N.J. - June 6, 2018 - PRLog -- The answer is, it depends.  An oil tank sweep with a metal detector or wand can miss a buried oil tank if it is filled in place or located below 2 feet. Environmental Systems has identified oil tanks at depths of 4-5 feet below surface grade level. Ground Penetrating  Radar (GPR ) can see through concrete or asphalt down to a depth of 18 feet and can detect soil disturbances.  A good GPR scan will note all anomalies and the company should also recommend extra cost soil borings to investigate what the soil looks like and if there is any heating oil located in the soils. Paying the extra money for soil borings is cheap insurance against purchasing a contaminated property. In 2017 while performing a oil tank sweep in Rumson, NJ. ESI identified 5 GPR anomalies in various areas around the property. No metal was detected but Environmental Systems recommended soil borings. Upon completing the soil borings Environmental Systems identified a area of the property that had former oil tank that was previously by a unlicensed contractor with no permits.  The $ 15000 dollar remediation cost have been the responsibility of the buyer if he had not moved forward with the extra cost soil borings.  Soil borings can identify sink holes and buried construction debris.
Environmental Systems is a full service environmental company that provides tank sweeps, oil tank removal/remediation services, and Environmental Phase I Assessment services throughout the state of New Jersey.
To obtain additional information contact Environmental Systems at 732-892-8707 or visit our website at www.allenvirosystem.com