français term (edited): cuvette de r�tention

Higher confidence if you can say it IS the holding area built around a tank, either by placing a tank in a depression or by building bunds around it, at ground level.

For containers smaller than those on a tank farm (44 gal. drums for instance, heating oil tanks, etc.), moulded plastic "leak/drip pans" are placed beneath them. I don't think these are referred to as "sewers", but are definitely a form of "secondary containment".

• Cuvette de rétention
En cas de fuites du réservoir ou de la citerne, le liquide doit être retenu sur place par un dispositif faisant cuvette de rétention, en matériaux résistant au produit stocké. La cuvette doit pouvoir contenir le volume total du plus grand réservoir lorsqu' il est unique. Lorsqu'il y en a plusieurs, le choix se fait en prenant la plus grande des deux valeurs suivantes : le volume total du plus grand réservoir ou la moitié du volume total de tous les réservoirs rassemblés dans la même cuvette. Il est utile de prévoir un point bas dans la cuvette de rétention afin de faciliter le pompage en cas de fuites et pour évacuer les eaux pluviales. Si des produits représentent un risque de réaction dangereuse en cas de mélanges, les cuvettes de rétention doivent être séparées.
http://www.iut.u-bordeaux1.fr/gmp/Stockageproduits.htm

Secondary Containment
The general strategy for preventing releases to the environment by containing a spill in the general area until the material is removed.
http://web.mit.edu/environment/ehs/topic/spcc_ref/glossary.h...

Secondary Containment
Enclosures that surround primary containment for hazardous materials. Outer bottles, piping, tank vaults and even chemical storage buildings are forms of secondary containment.
http://www.tradelineinc.com/content/BC2F613E-EB6A-11D3-B71E0...


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Note added at 39 mins (2005-11-03 12:40:16 GMT)
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Design, fabrication and turnkey installation of secondary containment systems
for hazardous liquids and gases, and the protection of water resources, ...
www.mpccontainment.com/

The Middletown Center has a small tank farm. ... so it was necessary to add a
secondary containment system to protect against leaks from the tanks, ...
www.mpccontainment.com/tank-farm-liners.shtml

Compliance with the National Fire Code requirements for secondary containment in
above ground tank farm applications. Physical and chemical resistance ...
www.esemag.com/1101/hazgard.html

Secondary Containment Systems
Unit Liner offers systems to contain the aggressive solutions for the largest industrial tank farm to a small floor cover for a metal finishing shop. Custom systems are available made from HDPE, Flexible PVC, and other specialty materials. Full installation services are available.
http://www.unitliner.com/