Leaking Underground Storage Tanks

Developed by Joe Ryan, University of Colorado

Overview
Contaminants

Federal
UST Legislation
State Support
Cleanup Status
UST Definitions

LUST Anatomy
Corrosion
Leaks
Site Character
Remediation
   Source
   Groundwater
New Tanks
   Installation
   Monitoring

A schematic of a typical LUST spill site (Mace et al., 1997). The leaky tank releases gasoline, or "liquid phase hydrocarbon." The gasoline descends through the unsaturated soil zone (depicted as the yellow layer) to float on the water table (gasoline is lighter than water). In the "smear zone," the gasoline releases compounds like benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) to the groundwater (depicted as the blue layer) and they are carried in the direction of groundwater flow. The extent of contamination is defined by the concentration of benzene (from 10 to 10,000 parts per billion) in the groundwater.

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BASIN is supported by the US EPA, the City of Boulder, the Keep it Clean Partnership, BCWI and BCN