Domestic Oil Spills Clean Up Athens

Home heating oil spills can occur due to leaking storage tanks, overfilling, or malfunctions in the heating system. Since these tanks are often located in basements, spills can lead to contamination of basement contents, the concrete foundation, and potentially the soil or groundwater beneath the structure. Specialized Onsite Services Inc. (SOS Inc.) is a certified company in Athens equipped to handle environmental cleanups. They thoroughly remove spilled oil, scrub all affected surfaces to eliminate residue, and ensure proper ventilation to reduce lingering odours. SOS Inc. meets the standards set by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, as well as the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA).

If you're facing an oil spill emergency in Athens, Specialized Onsite Services is your trusted, local partner. With years of experience serving residential and commercial properties across the Rideau Lakes region, we understand the unique environmental and infrastructure challenges in small Eastern Ontario communities like Athens. Whether it's a heating oil leak in a rural home or a fuel tank spill at a local business, we respond quickly and efficiently to protect your property and the environment.

Fuel oil spills are typically associated with leaking underground fuel storage tanks. If buried storage tanks are left unattended, over time corrosion will occur eventually causing perforations or holes in the tank itself. Buried storage tanks can be found on both residential and commercial/industrial properties around Athens.

Both Home heating oil and Fuel oil spills are typically governed by the Technical Safety Standards Authority (TSSA) as usually the loss is connected to a heating appliance or fuel dispensing operation of some kind. The TSSA will oversee and govern a loss within the property boundaries. If the spill reaches the groundwater table or if the spill migrates off site (or off the property) the TSSA will no longer govern the loss and authority will be handed over to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MOECP). After remediation of an oil spill in Athens is complete, a final technical report is required by the TSSA and/or the MOECP for site closure. The final report must be signed off by a qualified person (QP) such as an Environmental Engineer.

Step 1: Stop the spill.

Step 2: Contain and recover the spill.

Step 3: Collect the contaminated sorbent.

Step 4: Secure the waste.

Athens is known for its tight-knit community, historic homes, and rural properties — many of which still rely on oil heating systems. When leaks happen, it’s important to act fast. We specialize in:

• Home heating oil spills
• Fuel tank leaks in older buildings
• Oil contamination in crawl spaces, basements, and wells
• Spill containment on farmland and driveways

Our local team is familiar with Athens’ building structures, soil conditions, and local water sources, ensuring thorough cleanup and compliance with Ontario regulations.

We’ve helped property owners near Charleston Lake, Temperance Lake, and the Athens Fairgrounds with emergency spill cleanups, underground tank removals, and soil sampling and collection. Our goal is to restore your property quickly and with care.

If you're dealing with a spill or suspect an issue with your oil tank, don’t wait— contact us today at 613-354-3553, email us at info@soservices.ca, or fill out our contact form, professional help you can trust.

Emergency oil spills are normally the result of an accident, however under the Environmental Enforcement Act a person can be found at fault of negligence or willful pollution after an investigation of the spill and the following penalties may occur.

Penalties

• 187. (1) Every individual convicted of an offence under section 186, other than an offence described in subsection (3), is liable,
  • (a) on a first conviction, for each day or part of a day on which the offence occurs or continues, to a fine of not more than $50,000; and
  • (b) on each subsequent conviction,
    • (i) for each day or part of a day on which the offence occurs or continues, to a fine of not more than $100,000,
    • (ii) to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or
    • (iii) to both such fine and imprisonment. 2005, c. 12, s. 1 (57).

Same: corporations

• 187. (2) Every corporation convicted of an offence under section 186, other than an offence described in subsection (3), is liable,
  • (a) on a first conviction, for each day or part of a day on which the offence occurs or continues, to a fine of not more than $250,000; and
  • (b) on each subsequent conviction, for each day or part of a day on which the offence occurs or continues, to a fine of not more than $500,000. 2005, c. 12, s. 1 (57).