Pollution
Humain
Environnement
Economique

After filling a 60 m³ underground tank in an agricultural cooperative, 1 m³ of domestic heating oil flowed into the stormwater network (internal then public) before superficially polluting the River ELORN. After being alerted by residents, the gendarmes (French military police) alerted the operator who reported the presence of polluted water in the site’s retention pit and fuel oil in a settling tank and in the hydrocarbon separator. A specialist company pumped out the pollutants and cleaned the contaminated equipment. The inspection authorities for classified facilities reported non-compliance of procedures by the deliveryman: no gauging of the tank before filling, absence of attendants during unloading, and failure to report the incident to the operator. The presence of 2 standard nozzles at the filling point created the risk of confusion; only the nozzle intended for the fuel oil tank had a filling limiter. Finally, the automatic closure valve of the hydrocarbon separator was faulty. The inspection authorities for classified facilities recommended that the Prefect send a formal notification to the operator to comply with the requirements of its prefectural order.