The heavy snowfall this month has prompted the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment to issue an advisory to Island homeowners.
"Department staff responded to two oil spills the Monday after the weekend snow storm earlier this month, and both these incidents were the direct result of heavy snow or icicles falling from roofs," said Minister Chester Gillan. "With the proper preventative measures, these spills could have been avoided."
Minister Gillan's department is asking homeowners who have an outdoor oil tank to check to see if it has a weather protection device - and if not, to consider installing one today.
Weather protection devices are usually made of welded steel, sheet metal or solid wood. They sit over the filter and product line of the oil tank and keep these vulnerable parts from being broken off or damaged by the natural elements.
"These devices are easy to install and are one of the most effective means of protection against an oil spill," said Minister Gillan.
Pre-fabricated weather protection devices can either be purchased at a cost in the range of $30 to $40, or a properly-constructed unit can do the job. Either way, it is a small investment that could result in big savings.
Homeowners often do not realize that they have had an oil spill until the entire contents of their tank have leaked into the ground, leaving a clean-up bill that can be anywhere from several hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even more serious is the potential risk to the environment. Just one litre of oil can contaminate up to one million litres of drinking water.
The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment receives reports of some 200 domestic oil leaks and spills each year, and the absence of a weather protection device is a recurring factor in many outdoor spills.
"With the cooperation of Island homeowners, we want to see those figures drop this year," said Minister Gillan. "I know that protecting our soil and water resources is a priority for all Islanders and protecting against oil spills is one way we can do that."
For further information on oil tank weather protection devices and other home heat tank safety tips, contact the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment at (902) 368-5042.