LIQUID FERTILIZERS DYKING CONTAINMENT
TANK DYKING - TFIO Environmental and Operations Committees have adopted the Second Edition Environmental Handbook for Fertilizer and Agrichemical Dealers - TVA Environment Research Centre - 1996.
1.0 PURPOSE:
Purpose of this guideline is to assist Association member locations in the design of tank farm dyking.
2.0 INTRODUCTION:
Important that liquid solutions stored in tanks be provided with dyking or containment in order to ensure that inadvertent leaks or spills are not released to cause damage adversely impacting the environment.
Design and construction of dyking should be carried out in accordance with any government guidelines or regulations, and in keeping with the respective Association member site environmental policy.
Geotechnical study must be completed before a site is selected.
Existing dykes that do not meet the following basic requirements should be upgraded accordingly. If not certain if dyke will hold water have a geotechnical study to establish technical facts of the dyke.
3.0 DESIGN OF FACILITIES
3.1 INTRODUCTION:
Dykes should be designed and constructed to minimize the risk of an inadvertent spill or release of a liquid solution, which may adversely impact the environment.
3.2 CONCEPTS & PRINCIPLES:
Dykes must be constructed of an inert, impervious material, (i.e. concrete, compacted clay, etc.). Dykes may be constructed using concrete highway barriers and a Hypalon type liner secured to the top of the barrier. Synthetic liners are usually covered with gravel/sand to protect the liner, and keep it from being punctured. Dykes should be designed to permit containment at a low point, (i.e. sump) and to allow the discharge of collected precipitation. Sumps should contain water only temporarily.
Dykes containing tanks storing liquid solutions should be designed to contain 125% the volume of the largest tank, plus the displaced volume of the other tanks in the area up to the safe design level of the dyke.
Dyke walls should be built sufficiently far from the tank to collect leakage spouting from the tanks above the elevation of the tank wall.
Underground tank installation must be avoided.
Piping from tanks should be compatible with material stored within the tanks. Above ground piping is preferable to below ground piping as leaks from below ground level can go undetected.
Pumps and valves must be inside the dyke and installed above the floor level.
3.3 RISK MINIMIZATION & MANAGEMENT:
It is important to consider the location of storage tanks, operations, dykes, high traffic areas, topography and flood plain of the site with respect to the managing of risks (i.e. spills to soil and groundwater, or to watercourse).
Risks can be minimized with the use of impervious materials, trained employees, inspections, procedures, dykes, fencing, lockout systems, spill collection and mitigation equipment, etc.
4.0 OPERATIONS:
4.1 TRAINING:
A site training program should be implemented at all locations that handle liquid solutions in order to protect the employees and the environment. Training programs should be well documented and routinely upgraded.
Employees should be advised of your company's policy toward protection of the environment.
Procedures should be in place to deal with the clean up and reporting of spills.
Employees should be trained in carrying out the site emergency response plan. Employees should also be trained in the use of personal protective equipment and spill clean-up equipment.
4.2 INSPECTIONS:
Check operations for potential spill points.
Dykes should be inspected regularly.
(see Guidelines #5 - Checklist for Farm Storage of Liquid Fertilizers)
Regularly review site operations for ways to minimize the generation of wastewater.
Important to ensure that the vehicle or tank receiving liquid solutions is not leaking nor has open or leaking valves.
All tanks should be inspected regularly for corrosion and stability, as well as ancillary equipment (i.e. piping).
Measuring/weighting device - all tanks should have a devise installed that will notify you of a volume/weight/level change.
4.3 ON-SITE SPILL CONTAINMENT & MANAGEMENT:
Spills should be cleaned up immediately to avoid the potential for soil and groundwater contamination.
Spill collection equipment should be on-site (i.e. pumps, drums, absorbent materials, etc).
Spills may need to be reported to the Ministry of the Environment if there is an impact on the environment.
Liquid spills or wastewater should be collected and recycled wherever possible.
(see Guidelines # 4 - Fertilizer - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)
An emergency response plan should be in place to deal with inadvertent spills. All employees should be familiar with the emergency response plan.
4.4 EQUIPMENT CLEAN-UP:
Use designated equipment, if frequent cleaning is necessary.
4.5 SECURITY:
Pumps or tank drain valves should be locked out when not in use or when no one is on-site
5.0 CHECKLIST:
o
Are all unloading and loading operation areas cleaned daily?o
Are collection buckets used to catch drips or when disconnecting hoses?o
Are underground sumps checked for leakage?o
Is the containment area inspected regularly as to integrity?o
Are tanks checked for rust or leaks? Are inspections documented?o
Is storm water runoff managed to avoid contamination with product?o
Are tanks, unloading and loading pads in a contained area?o
Is the contained area 125% the volume of the largest tank? Plus the volume occupied
by the other tanks in the area up to the safe design level of the dyke?o
Are all pipes and hoses within the containment area?o
Are leaks repaired immediately?o
Are captured liquid solutions recycled?o
Is contaminated runoff collected and recycled?o
Are liquids stored to prevent contamination with other materials?o
Are flammable materials segregated?o
Are tanks labelled correctly?o
Are your employees trained in the proper handling of liquid solutions?o
Do you have protective and spill containment equipment on-hand?o
Are sewer drains near storage or washing areas blocked? (if any)o
Does your loading and unloading facility have proper security, fencing, lighting,
locking system, etc.?o
Do you have Material Safety Date Sheets (MSDS) available for all products
required?o
Are appropriate signs placed to designate hazardous chemicals?
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