Detection of diesel leakage from underground storage tank using time domain reflectometry

Abstract

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established regulations concerning the construction and maintenance of an underground storage tank (UST) system. These regulations also define the means and methods required to detect potential leaks. Leak detection methods defined as “other methods” can be used if specific requirements are achieved. We find in our study time domain reflectometry (TDR) can be used to detect leaks from an UST. The magnitudes of reflections measured by the TDR technique are used to calculate electrical properties of the soil. We find the introduction of diesel fuel, a light nonaqueous phase liquid (LNAPL), into the soil alters the physical and chemical properties of the soil and subsequently the electrical properties. We demonstrate the measured variance of electrical properties can be correlated to the changes of diesel fuel concentration. We find diesel fuel can be detected and changes of concentration can be measured using TDR.