MTBE In Water: What Should You Do?
MTBE is a gasoline additive that has turned up in groundwater in communities across North America, including parts of California. Here’s what it is, how it’s regulated, and how to test for and reduce it at home.
What is MTBE?
MTBE stands for Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether. It is a chemical that was originally added to gasoline to try to help it burn cleaner. Over time, this chemical has seeped into community water sources through both leaks in petroleum storage tanks and pipelines. This chemical degrades very slowly, and it dissolves easily in water, allowing it to travel farther, spread much easier, and last much longer in your water supply than other chemicals.
How Is MTBE Regulated?
California is one of the few states with enforceable limits for MTBE: a primary standard of 13 parts per billion (ppb) and a secondary standard of 5 ppb, set because MTBE can be tasted and smelled at very low levels. California banned MTBE as a gasoline additive in 2004, but it breaks down slowly, so it can still show up in groundwater near old leaks.
MTBE comes with a nasty, bitter taste, and odor that, according to a study from the University of Massachusetts, some describe as tasting like turpentine. That is why California’s secondary standard is set lower than the primary one. For questions about MTBE and your health, talk to your doctor or your county health department.
Possible solutions
There are a few different treatment methods for reducing MTBE in water. The main two methods are called “Air Stripping” and Reverse Osmosis with an activated carbon block as pre-filtrations.
- Air Stripping: This method involves allowing large amounts of air to run through the contaminated water, breaking up the water into smaller droplets. The end goal of this is that the contaminated water will evaporate into the air.
- Reverse Osmosis: At home, a reverse osmosis system with activated carbon pre-filtration can reduce MTBE; check the system’s performance data sheet to confirm MTBE reduction before you buy.
How do I know if there are MTBE in my water?
MTBE often has a noticeable smell and taste, but testing is the only way to know. Other steps you can take include calling your local utility to ask if they test for MTBE. If they do, ask if it is in the drinking water and if so, what levels. All local utilities are required to release an annual water quality report. Find your local utility on Google to access the report.
If you have a private well or your local utility does not test for MTBE, lab testing can be done. Contact your local Culligan of Orange County to learn more about this.
Scenarios in which MTBE has affected a community.
Cleanup has been expensive for communities with contaminated wells. In Southern California, Santa Monica shut down drinking water wells after MTBE was found in the 1990s, and according to consumer watchdog group Environmental Working Group, “remedies for large cities alone could eventually reach $29 billion, according to the U.S. Conference of Mayors.”
Works Cited:
