Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) vs. Aboveground Storage Tanks (ASTs)

In earlier times, USTs were the preferred method for on-farm fuel storage. At least 4 reasons were usually cited:

  1. Fuel remains cool year-round, thus minimizing evaporation losses, especially with gasoline.

  2. Moisture will not condense as rapidly in underground tanks so the process of gum formation is slowed.

  3. Since fire hazard is reduced, underground storage tanks can be located quite close to other structures, permitting more convenient location for fuel servicing.

  4. An underground tank cannot be accidentally struck (and punctured) by passing vehicles and farm equipment, and does not attract the clutter that sometimes is allowed to accumulate around aboveground tanks.

Many farmers believed that these UST advantages out-weighed UST disadvantages (compared to ASTs). These included:

  1. USTs have a higher initial cost - for excavation and site preparation, piping and tank installation, etc.

  2. USTs are more difficult (and costly) to move, once installed, say to a different farmstead or base of operations, or to a different location at the same site.

  3. Initial site selection for USTs must be done very carefully, not only for "convenience of use," but also regarding water table and flooding factors.

But in recent times many farmers have concluded that the "negative aspects" of USTs (including the potential for undetected underground fuel leaks) exceed the operational and management advantages of USTs.

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