It might be a lot prettier if chemical delivery tanks and pipes were buried in the ground. However, in California's "Silicon Valley," the semiconductor industry learned a valuable lesson: Tanks and pipes leak when they are not supposed to, and if they are hidden, leaks may go undetected for long periods.

So, while not as esthetically pleasing, it makes environmental sense to run pipes above ground where corrosion and flaws can be detected and repaired long before any leakage occurs.