Old Cisterns and Underground Storage Tanks: Environmental Considerations for Removal

Some older South Texas properties include historic underground cisterns or underground storage tanks, often remnants from earlier agricultural operations or older fuel storage practices. Understanding the specific environmental considerations involved in evaluating and potentially removing these features helps landowners handle this situation appropriately.

• Historic water cisterns, generally simple underground water storage structures, typically presenting minimal environmental concern beyond basic structural safety
• Underground fuel storage tanks (USTs), historically used for on-farm fuel storage, presenting genuinely more significant environmental considerations given potential soil and groundwater contamination risk from fuel leakage over time

Older underground fuel tanks, particularly those installed before modern leak detection and containment standards, present genuine environmental risk if they've deteriorated and potentially leaked fuel into surrounding soil, making proper evaluation before any land use changes near these features particularly important.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality maintains specific regulations regarding underground storage tanks, including requirements for registered, actively used tanks and specific considerations for older, potentially abandoned tanks discovered on a property.

1. Avoid disturbing the area until proper evaluation has occurred, since disturbing potentially contaminated soil without proper assessment could create additional complications
2. Contact TCEQ or a qualified environmental consultant for guidance on proper assessment procedures
3. Understand potential soil testing needs, determining whether any contamination is actually present before proceeding with removal
4. Follow proper regulatory procedures for tank removal, if evaluation confirms this is necessary

If you're evaluating a property with a known or suspected old underground fuel storage tank, this warrants specific environmental due diligence, potentially including professional site assessment, before finalizing your purchase, given the potential liability and remediation cost considerations involved.

For simple historic water cisterns, without fuel storage history, primary considerations typically center on:

• Structural safety, ensuring the cistern doesn't present a fall hazard
• Whether the structure has any remaining historic or practical water storage value worth preserving
• Basic filling or capping considerations if removal or decommissioning is preferred

Given the genuine potential for soil and groundwater contamination from deteriorated underground fuel storage, working with a qualified environmental consultant rather than attempting DIY evaluation provides essential, appropriate expertise for this specific type of concern.

Properties with known or suspected underground fuel storage tank history should have this properly documented and addressed, since unresolved environmental concerns can significantly affect both financing availability and overall marketability for future resale.

1. What type of tank does this appear to be, water cistern or fuel storage, based on initial observation?
2. If potentially a fuel tank, what does TCEQ guidance indicate for proper assessment and, if needed, remediation?
3. What would qualified environmental consultant evaluation involve, and what are realistic cost expectations?
4. How does this affect my overall property plans and any financing considerations?

Old underground cisterns generally present minimal environmental concern beyond basic structural safety, while underground fuel storage tanks warrant genuinely careful, professional environmental evaluation given potential contamination risk. Understanding this distinction and following appropriate regulatory guidance helps Wilson County landowners handle these historic features responsibly and safely.

This article is educational and general information. Always consult the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality or a qualified environmental consultant regarding specific underground storage tank concerns.

Discovered an old underground tank or cistern on land you own or are considering purchasing in Wilson County?

📞 James: 210-740-1295 🌐 www.txranchandhome.com 📅 Schedule a Free Land Consultation with James

James Peterson ALC, is an Accredited Land Consultant and land expert serving Wilson County, Floresville, La Vernia, Stockdale, Poth, and South Texas.

Questions about this on a property in Floresville? Texas Ranch & Home works rural homes and land across Wilson, Atascosa, Gonzales, Guadalupe and Karnes Counties. Call James Peterson ALC at (210) 740-1295 or Barbara Peterson at (210) 540-6487, or send us a message.

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