Petroleum substances in soil and groundwater in the urban areas

Protecting Cape Town’s Groundwater from Fuel Stations: An In-Depth Analysis of Regulatory Requirements

“…The central focus of this study is the examination of fuel stations as potent sources of groundwater contamination. Despite their undeniable socio-economic importance [8,9], fuel stations also engender significant environmental challenges, notably groundwater contamination stemming from leakages in underground storage tanks and associated pipelines [10]. Groundwater pollution originating from fuel stations assumes heightened significance, especially when neighbouring communities rely on groundwater sources for their water supply [11].…”

“…According to Ahmed et al [8], fuel stations represent facilities where substantial quantities of petroleum-based fuels, such as petrol, diesel and various refined products, are stored for commercial purposes. However, the inherent technical complexities and environmental vulnerabilities of underground storage tanks (USTs) and associated equipment at fuel stations can lead to leaks, resulting in soil and groundwater contamination [10]. Such contamination incidents often involve the release of hazardous compounds, like Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene (BTEX) compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), lead and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), an oxygenate blended in unleaded fuel, among others [6].…”