Which of the following is a preventative spill measure for WWTPs?

• A. Provide onsite containment equipment and seal the yard and storm drains
• B. Inspect storage tanks and hardware
• C. Inspect and maintain fill lines and valves
• D. Storage tanks must have secondary containment equal to tank volume

Answer: (B)

Focusing on preventing releases before they happen, regular inspection of the storage tanks and the hardware that supports them is the most direct preventive step. By routinely checking for signs of potential failure—leaks around seams, corrosion, cracks, loose fittings, worn or damaged gaskets, faulty vents, and condition of fill connections—you catch problems early and address them before a spill occurs. This keeps the primary containment system reliable and minimizes the chance of a release.

Contingency measures like having onsite containment equipment and sealing drains help limit impacts if a spill does occur, but they don’t stop the spill at its source. Inspecting and maintaining fill lines and valves is also important, but storage tanks and their hardware are the primary points of failure you want to monitor regularly. A design-based requirement like secondary containment is critical, yet it’s a static protection feature rather than an active preventive maintenance action you perform routinely.