Inspectors find water in gas tanks

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

Some Oklahomans are getting less than what they paid for at the gas pump.

Every year state officials find gas stations that have water in their underground tanks. A spokesman for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission said water in tanks is not a scam.  It happens when workers fail to put properly seal off the tanks or when heavy flood waters somehow seep into the tank due to a crack.

Laslie Rinehart said one trip to the EZ Shop, 5050 N May Ave., cost him more than $100 in repairs because the gasoline was mixed with water.

A manager at the EZ Shop denied the claims, but state records show the station has a history of water problems.

State officials said inspectors find water in only a small percentage of gas stations across the state. 

Rinehart said he could have taken his case to the courts, but he failed to get a receipt at the time of the purchase. 

"I've talked to attorneys and the attorneys have said that pretty much without a receipt there's nothing that I can do," he said.