Blog
The History of Underground Oil Tanks in Virginia
Prior to World War II, homes across Virginia relied heavily on coal for heating. Thus thousands of underground oil tanks were installed in Virginia. This method, while providing warmth, presented significant drawbacks. Coal produced substantial amounts of dust,...
Clean Groundwater Matters in Virginia
Does clean groundwater matter in Virginia? The recent 2025 water crisis in Richmond serves as a powerful reminder of the crucial role that clean groundwater plays in our everyday lives. Even the slightest hint of contamination can disrupt our routines and pose serious...
Virginia Groundwater And Leaking Underground Oil Tanks
Homeowners may not know that the groundwater below the surface of their property can be impacted by a neighbor's leaking underground oil tank. Eventually, that groundwater will reach the surface via a creek, pond, lake or may be extracted for irrigation, or drinking...
Virginia Law and Groundwater: RVA Today Interview
Join John Pollard as He Discusses Underground Oil Tank Issues on Channel 12 RVA Today In this interview, John Pollard discusses a variety of issues relating to underground oil tanks in Virginia. Without doubt, residential heating oil and farm motor fuel, which are...
How to Purchase a Property With An Underground Oil Tank
When considering how to purchase a property with an underground oil tank, it’s important to take specific precautions. We recommend that the following items be included in the addendum to the purchase contract to help protect all parties and ensure a thorough...
Virginia Law and Abandoned Underground Oil Tanks: Water in The Tank
We at Pollard often encounter homeowners who are confident that their existing heating oil underground storage tank (UST) is in sound condition because as they say, “it doesn’t have any water in it”. We have found that the water test is very unreliable. If a UST was...
Real Estate and Underground Oil Tanks in Virginia
Real Estate and Underground Oil Tanks If you are a real estate agent who is interested in learning about underground tanks in Virginia - this class is for you! Virginia real estate agents will learn the facts about properly addressing an underground oil tank, and how...