What is the requirement for tanks with secondary containment regarding leak detection?

For tanks equipped with secondary containment, having a monitoring system is essential for leak detection because it ensures continuous oversight of the contained liquids. This system is designed to quickly detect any leaks that may occur from the primary tank, which could potentially lead to environmental contamination or safety hazards.

A monitoring system can include various technologies, such as automatic sensors that can detect the presence of liquids within the containment area or electronic monitoring systems that report the status in real-time. By focusing on immediate detection, these systems help in minimizing the risk of environmental damage and facilitate prompt corrective actions when a leak is detected.

Other options, like visual inspection or manual checks, while they can be part of maintenance and oversight, do not provide the same level of reliability or prompt response as a dedicated monitoring system. Annual testing does not contribute to ongoing leak detection but rather assesses the integrity of the containment system periodically. Therefore, having a monitoring system is not only a requirement but also a best practice for maintaining the safety and environmental compliance of secondary containment tanks.