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MTBE in Drinking WaterWhat is MTBE? MTBE (methyl-t-butyl ether) is a member of a group of chemicals commonly known as fuel oxygenates. Oxygenates are added to fuel to increase its oxygen content. MTBE is used in gasoline throughout the United States to reduce carbon monoxide and ozone levels caused by auto emissions. MTBE replaces the use of lead as an octane enhancer since 1979. For additional information, please go to EPA's general MTBE site. How does MTBE contaminate water supplies? Releases of MTBE to ground and surface water can occur through leaking underground storage tanks and pipelines, spills, emissions from marine engines into lakes and reservoirs, and to some extent from air deposition. How do I know if I have MTBE in my water? You can determine if your water contains MTBE the following ways. If your drinking water is supplied by a public water system, you can contact the system directly and ask whether they monitor for MTBE and what levels, if any, have been detected. In 2001, public water systems serving most of the population will be required to monitor for MTBE. If you have a private well, your local health department may be able to tell you if MTBE has been found in water in your area. If you want to get your water tested, call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) or go to http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/sco.html to get the phone number for the office in your state that certifies drinking water laboratories. How can I remove MTBE from my water? Public water systems can use existing technologies such as air stripping,
granular activated carbon (GAC), and advanced oxidation to remove MTBE
contamination. Some home treatment units can also remove MTBE in tap water.
The EPA does not certify the effectiveness of home treatment units since
it only regulates public water supplies. NSF
International What is the Office of Water doing to address MTBE concerns? Due to its widespread use, reports of MTBE detections in the nation's ground and surface water supplies are increasing. The Office of Water is actively involved in identifying the issues and addressing the concerns over the potential presence of MTBE in our water supplies. The Office of Water is participating in MTBE projects in the following areas: EPA has established a panel of leading experts in the fields of public health, the scientific community, automotive fuels, water utilities, and local and State environmental officials to focus on the issues posed by the continued use of MTBE and other oxygenates in gasoline. The panel will look at the role of oxygenates in meeting clean air standards; evaluate its efficiency and other alternatives; assess the behavior of oxygenates in the environment; review known health effects; look at the cost of production and use and the product's availability; study causes of ground and drinking water contamination from motor vehicle fuels; and examine cleanup technologies for water and soil. In September 1999, the panel released its final report on the findings and recommendations on how best to ensure public health and environmental protection while maintaining clean air and water benefits. In response to the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel, the Office
of Water issued a memo
to the States regarding concerns about MTBE and how to protect sources
of drinking water. The memo encourages early MTBE monitoring under the
Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule and assessing the impact of MTBE
sources into source water assessments, and highlights the development
of a secondary drinking water standard.
As part of implementing the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996, the Office of Water has placed MTBE on the drinking water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) for further evaluation to determine whether or not regulation with a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) is necessary. The CCL divided the contaminants among those which are priorities for additional research, those which need additional occurrence data, and those which are priorities for consideration for rulemaking. The Agency determined that MTBE needs more health effects research and occurrence data before a regulatory determination can be made. Information gathered from the Agency's research and data collection efforts will assist our regulatory determination.
Research To facilitate the advancement of crucial scientific knowledge needed for MTBE and other fuel oxygenates in the environment, the Office of Water has participated in an agency-wide task force on an "Oxygenates in Water: Critical Information and Research Needs" (Needs) document. The Needs document identifies key issues and information needed to support risk assessment and risk management of MTBE and other oxygenates in water, and lists more than 40 projects that are currently underway or anticipated. EPA is conducting a key pharmacokinetic study that will help clarify the potential health risks from MTBE in drinking water more quickly than the amount of time (likely more than four years) it would require to conduct and analyze a two-year drinking water study in rodents. The Agency is very concerned and has been closely following the increasing
detections of MTBE in the ground and surface water supplies throughout
the nation. While most MTBE detections typically occur at levels below
those recommended in EPA's
Drinking Water Advisory, there have been instances of contamination
at much higher levels of potential health concern. We are working together
with the U.S. Geological Survey
For printed copies of EPA Office of Water documents please contact either the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791), Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern time. Additional EPA Links on MTBE: Office of Transportation and Air Quality Office of Underground Storage Tanks Other MTBE-related Links: American Water Works Association California Department of Health Services MTBE Research at University of California at Davis Association of California Water Agencies American Petroleum Institute -- MTBE Resource Page Farm*A* Syst Brochure for Private Well Owners
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