Chicago Storage Tank Asset Records and Locations

Records from the Chicago Department of Public Health detail aboveground and underground storage tank installations, removals, and specifications. This historical dataset consolidates information from permit applications and legacy databases, including the Department of Environment and pre-1992 Building Department records. Data collection ceased in 2020, with newer information available in separate systems.

Use Cases

• Map tank locations and types using LATITUDE, LONGITUDE, and TANK TYPE to assess environmental risk density by ZIP Codes or Census Tracts.
• Analyze tank lifespans and usage patterns by calculating the interval between INSTALLATION DATE, LAST USED DATE, and REMOVAL DATE.
• Identify facilities with specific tank characteristics, such as TANK CONSTRUCTION or TANK MATERIAL, for regulatory compliance checks.
• Correlate TANK PRODUCT stored with facility types using FACILITY NAME and ADDRESS for historical land-use studies.
• Track data provenance and record completeness by filtering entries based on the DATA SOURCE column.

Strengths

• Includes 28 distinct columns covering tank specifications, location, dates, and facility details.
• Provides geospatial fields (LATITUDE, LONGITUDE) and administrative boundaries (Wards, Community Areas) for spatial analysis.
• Integrates historical records from multiple legacy city databases, offering a consolidated view.

Limitations

• Dataset is static and no longer updated as of 2020, limiting analysis of recent tank activity.
• Unknown total row count and sample size prevents assessment of statistical significance.
• Potential for incomplete records or data gaps exists due to the merging of historic sources.

Provenance

Source

Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) Tank Asset Database.

Collection Method

Compiled from CDPH AST and UST permit applications and imported records from historic Department of Environment and Building Department databases.

Time Range

Historical records, including pre-1992 data; specific range unknown.

Freshness

Not updated; historical snapshot finalized in 2020.

Geography

City of Chicago, Illinois, USA.