How Oil Spills Threaten Local Watersheds

Petroleum products can migrate through the soil into streams

In communities across Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties, petroleum products such as heating oil, diesel, and gasoline are part of everyday life. Homes depend on heating oil systems, while vehicles, trucks, and heavy equipment rely on fuel to operate. But when accidents or equipment failures occur, these petroleum products can quickly become environmental hazards—especially when spills reach sensitive local watersheds.

Why Petroleum Spills Are So Dangerous

Whether from a leaking underground heating oil tank or a tanker truck accident, petroleum spills pose serious risks to both property owners and the environment.

• Soil Contamination: Spilled oil or fuel binds to soil particles, making cleanup challenging and expensive.

• Water Pollution: Petroleum products can migrate through the soil into streams, rivers, and groundwater aquifers, threatening drinking water supplies and aquatic ecosystems.

• Air Quality Hazards: Vapors released from spilled heating oil or gasoline can enter homes, businesses, or confined spaces, creating dangerous indoor air conditions.

Even small spills can have large consequences. A single gallon of oil has the potential to contaminate up to one million gallons of water.

Emergency Situations: More Than Just Heating Oil Tanks

Spills aren’t limited to aging underground tanks. Emergency releases can happen suddenly and unexpectedly, such as:

• Vehicle Accidents: Collisions involving trucks or passenger vehicles can rupture fuel tanks, spilling diesel or gasoline onto roads, into storm drains, and directly into waterways.

• Commercial & Industrial Sites: Machinery failures, improper fuel storage, or accidents on job sites can cause significant petroleum releases.

• Residential Leaks: Corroded or damaged heating oil systems can discharge fuel into basements, soil, and nearby drains.

Each of these situations requires a swift, professional response to minimize contamination and protect nearby communities.

How Tri State Environmental Services Protects Homes and the Environment

Based in Hawthorne, New York, Tri State Environmental Services is a top-rated provider for preventing, managing, and cleaning up petroleum spills across the Hudson Valley.

• Heating Oil Tank Replacement: We specialize in removing old underground heating oil tanks and replacing them with modern, above-ground solutions that are safer and easier to monitor.

• 24/7 Emergency Spill Response: Our team is available around the clock to handle heating oil spills, vehicle accident fuel releases, and other petroleum emergencies.

• Complete Remediation: From rapid spill containment to soil excavation and regulatory compliance, we manage every aspect of the cleanup process.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

If your home or business relies on petroleum products, the risks are real—and the consequences of a spill can be devastating to your property and to the environment.

Take action today:

• Replace aging underground tanks before they leak.

• Be prepared with a trusted 24/7 emergency response partner.

• Protect your community’s water resources.

Tri State Environmental Services is committed to keeping your home, business, and environment safe.

📞 Contact us now for immediate emergency response or to learn more about safe tank replacement.