Using an oil tank as a cistern: Who has done that?

Usual procedure in this case: pumping out residual oil and tank cleaning by a certified specialist company, inspection of the tank + approval by a certified, external expert (service of the specialist company), for a tight tank: quick approval, for corroded tank and/or suspected risk of petroleum leakage into the soil: possibly taking soil samples and analysis by a geo-laboratory + possible soil replacement.

Afterwards either filling the tank with approved material (offer from certified specialist company), removal + scrapping of the tank + filling/compacting the tank pit with approved material (civil engineering company) or as suggested: renovation of the oil tank by coating by certified specialist company.

Filling and leaving in the soil is still the most cost-effective method.

Thank you , i.e. I don’t have to decide yet, but will first take care of the decommissioning. If the tank is left in the ground, can the opening be somehow covered up so that the lid is no longer visible?

So let's be realistic. An oil tank hardly rusts from the inside. Cleaning by a specialist company is clear. And then I would use it until it falls apart. Disposing of a 10 m³ tank makes a huge hole. If the tank no longer works, fill it with earth. I myself use a decommissioned septic tank and had similar problems back then with liquid bitumen inside. Today I am grateful for the 6 m². I paint it from the inside every 3 years and it does its job. Punky, you have read many opinions here, ultimately you have to decide for yourself.

Please note that the specialist company will provide you with a confirmation of the decommissioning. Then you can use this to deregister your tank with the responsible authority.

So let's be realistic. An oil tank hardly rusts from the inside.

It does not rust as long as it is in use. After that, it becomes susceptible.

totally dacore, but it is there, costs nothing and the benefit of 10 m³ of water for the garden is quite large. And if it has a hole in 15 years, you can still look for a solution. At the moment it only costs the cleaning, otherwise you are of course right