Drinking Water and MTBE:
A Guide for Private Well Owners
A word about this publication! This brochure provides private well owners with
basic information about the gasoline additive chemical methyl tertiary-butyl ether
(MTBE). You can get more information about drinking water and MTBE from the
resources listed at the end, and you can get help from your local health department.
Do you have a private well?
About 42 million people in the U'.S. get their drinking
water from household wells, springs, cisterns, and
streams (instead of getting piped water supplied by
public water systems). Although the federal
^government does not supervise private wells, most
i states have requirements for home well installation.
"Gasoline is one of many pollution threats to the
ground water that supplies your well. If you are a
private well owner, the best way to make sure your
drinking water is safe is to test it! More importantly, if
your water supply is clean now, you can take steps to
protect it from pollution in the future (see the section,
How canyon protect your drinking water from
pollution risks?, below).
What is MTBE?
MTBIvGiiethyl tertiary-butyl ether) is a chemical added
to gasoline to increase octane. Its use began in the
1970's to replace lead in gasoline. After 1995, many
metropolitan areas of the country with smog problems
also added MTBE to gasoline because it helps to
reduce harmful emissions from automobile exhaust.
Adding MTBE to gas has been one way to meet EPA's
oxygenate mandate.
Why is MTBE a
drinking water concern?
Gasoline and heating oil travel through pipelines and
are also distributed by truck to above ground and
underground storage tanks. Underground storage tank
leaks and spills provide major sources of MTBE.
In addition, people store gasoline in cars, boats,
planes, lawn mowers, chain saws, generators, and off-
road vehicles. Therefore, farm and residential releases,
car accidents, spills, boats, and storm water runoff also
release gasoline into the environment.
MTBE moves quickly through soil, dissolves easily in
water, and takes longer to break down than some
other chemicals.
Could MTBE be in your water?
The US Geological Survey has found MTBE in ground
water in 24 states, though gasoline with MTBE poses a
risk wherever it is used, transported or stored. The
USGS has found MTBE in water roughly five times
more often and at higher concentrations in areas of the
country where MTBE lias been used as a fuel additive
to reduce pollution. Your local health department may
know if people are finding MTBE in your area.
For most people, water with MTBE in very low
concentrations tastes and smells "nasty," bitter, or like
turpentine. However, natural or water treatment
chemicals can hide or increase taste and odors in
drinking water. Typically, the levels of any
contaminant increase very slowly in a well as the
contaminated water moves from the source into the
well. The result Ls that people drinking the water every
day may not notice a change in the taste or odor. Over
time they may become accustomed to the taste and
smell. You may discover the problem only when
someone who has not been drinking contaminated
water (perhaps a friend from across town or an out-of-
town visitor) notices that the water tastes or smells
funny. If you suspect contamination, you may want to
pay to get your water tested for MTBE. It costs about
$150 per sample, and your state can give you a list of
laboratories certified to test for MTBE. EPA
recommends yearly testing of private water supplies:
for nitrate and coliform bacteria. Some states
recommend other testing and your local health
department may do these water quality tests for you.
photo by Bruce Fritz
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How much MTBE is too much?
Most people can taste and smell MTBE in very small
amounts. According to EPA's Drinking Water Advisory,
EPA reviewed health effects studies in 1997 and noted that
drinking water with MTBE levels of 20 to 40 "parts per
billion" (acceptable taste and odor) would probably not
pose health risks. MTBE at 20 ppb in water is about the
same as one drop in 500 gallons of water. EPA has efforts
underway to fill some of the data gaps on health effects
of MTBE and the extent of its occurrence in drinking
water supplies.
Current data on MTBE levels in ground and surface waters
indicate widespread and numerous detections at low levels
of MTBE, However, in studies to date, only about one
percent of the ground and surface water testing positive for
MTBE has levels higher than 20 ppb. Leaks and spills from
storage tanks have caused a limited number of drinking
water wells to have high concentrations of MTBE.
Keep in mind that gasoline contains many chemicals, some
of which could be in higher concentration in your water
and a much more serious health concern. Immediately
contact your local health officials if your water tastes or
smells suspicious, and remember to test!
j*.. j
Do you need to take further action
concerning MTBE?
If you answer "no" or "unknown" to any of the questions in
the following checklist, you should get more information
(see the resources at the end of this brochure). If a question
does not apply to you, just skip it.
A Checklist for identifying MTBE problems
Yes
No
Unknown
Have you tested your well water in the last 12 months?
If gasoline is sold or stored within 1 mile of your well,
have you tested your water specifically for MTBE at least once?
Have you asked the health department if there is any known
groundwater contamination reported in your community?
If you have an underground fuel storage tank (I S I ),
have you tested the tank for leaks in the last 12 months?
If you have an above-ground fuel storage tank (AST), have you tested the
soil around the tank to determine if there have been leaks, drips, or spills?
If you have an AST, is it protected with concrete containment and
do you closely monitor the tank for leaks, drips, and spills?
If you have either an AST or UST, do you have procedures to prevent leaks,
drips, or spills and as well as methods to clean them up immediately?
If there has been a vehicle accident or other instances of fuel spills on or
near your property, have you tested for MTBE since those occurrences?
Have you tested your water upon recognizing
a change in taste, smell, or appearance?
If you use gasoline-powered equipment, do you prevent leaks,
drips, and spills and do you clean them up immediately?
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What can you do if you have
MTBE contamination?
Make sure that you get a "certified treatment system" and
consult with resources listed at the end of this brochure
before you purchase a product. One not-for-profit, non-
government organization, NSF International, certifies
products to meet national and international standards. (See
Other Internet Websites at the end of this brochure )
How can you protect your drinking
water from pollution risks?
MTBE in gasoline is just one of many types of chemicals
that can contaminate your drinking water if not properly
used and stored. In addition to gasoline, pesticides,
herbicides: and other chemicals are used on farms and
around households. Use chemicals only as directed by the
manufacturer, never apply more than is recommended, and
follow proper clean up procedures. Don't build stockpiles!
Stockpiling excess chemicals near your home or on your
farm could be a contamination problem waiting to happen.
Protect your ground water supply when you build, modify,
or close a well. Inspect septic systems, maintain your well
cap and surface seals, keep well maintenance records, and
do not drink from flooded wells. Take preventative steps to
avoid contamination from fuel stored in an underground or
above-ground storage tank. Use the checklist provided in
this brochure to determine if you need to take action based
upon your current or past use and storage of gasoline.
Use the Home M^ifjsf-and Fann *A"Syst Pollution
Assessment Programs to assess the risk of gasoline and
chemical use and storage on your farm or near your home.
On the internet access http://www.uwex.edu/farmasyst
(click on "search" then select "Petroleum Product
Management" or "Private Drinking Water Supply" under the
Household Topic Search to find worksheets developed in
your state or region). To find program contacts in your
state, click on the "Resources" button on this web site, or
caH 608-262-0024.
How real is the threat of
MTBE contamination?
The Environmental Protection Agency and many scientific
organizations continue to study the health risks and total
environmental threat from gasoline containing MTBE..
Fourteen states - nine of which are not required to use a
fuel additive to limit air pollution in certain areas, have
partially or completely banned the use of MTBE within their
borders or made other regulations on its use. Even if MTBE
Is banned, it will be many years before it is eliminated from
the environment. According to a report in the March 2001
Successful Farming magazine, even a minor spill of gasoline
containing MTBE is a big threat to ground water supplies.
In one instance, just ten galloas of gasoline containing
MTBE was spilled as a result of an automobile accident on
one person's property. This single event led to MTBE
contamination of the water supply for twelve families.
Summary
You can protect your water supply through good practices
that prevent contamination and by testing your water
regularly. There is a great deal of information and there are
many services available on the World Wide Web if you
have a computer and an internet service provider. You can
get much of the same information by calling the telephone
numbers listed for the resources below. The US EPA and
many states have free printed materials about MTBE and
other water related topics.
photo by Ken Hammond
diagram by Betsy True
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Resources Available in Your State
Public Health
You should first call your local or state public health
department concerning local drinking water MTBE issues.
Your local office may have some information about MTBE
contamination, if it has occurred in your vicinity. A listing of
and links to all state health agencies may be found at
http://www.fda.gov/oca/sthealth.htm.
Natural Resources and
Environmental Quality
K;k h state has a department of environmental or natural
resource protection that works closely with the federal
Environmental Protection Agency. These state offices help
individuals keep their drinking water safe by providing
information about well construction and protection Listings
of and links to all state departments may be found at
http://risk.lsd.oml.gov/CRE/CRE_eco_state.html.
Cooperative Extension
County Cooperative Extension agents can help you evaluate
risks to your drinking water supply, and find local sources
of assistance. Listings of and links to all state University and
Cooperative Extension offices may be found at
http://www.reeusda.gov/1700/statepartners/usa.litiii
These state web sites in turn will lead you to your county
contacts. Links to state ,Fam*A*Syst/Home*A*Systprograms
may be found by clicking "Resources" at http://www.
uwex.edu/farmasyst, or call 608-262-0024.
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Resources Available Nationwide
The Farrn*A*Spt and Programs, 608-262-
0024, http://www.uwex.edu/farmasyst, provide farm
and home environmental assessment materials and other
publications that can help you protect your water supply.
Supplies of this brochure may be obtained from this office.
United States Environmental
Protection Agency
A number of publications and general information are
available via the web site of the EPA Office of Water,
Ground Water and Drinking Water: http://www.
epa.gov/safewater/mtbe.html, and through EPA's
general MTBE information web page: http://www.
epa.gov/mtbe/. These web pages provide an overview of
the MTBE issue and recent related actions by EPA. You can
go from the "safewater" web page through links to get your
local drinking water information ("memo to the states"),,
drinking water standards, and many other water-related
subjects. Both pages also contain many links to EPA and
other sites concerning MTBE.
You can call the Safe Drinking Water (SDW) Hotline at
800-426-4791 Monday through Friday 9:00am to 5:30pm
EST to find out where to get your water tested, and for
information specifically on MTBE and other drinking water
issues. You can also obtain hard copy EPA publicatioas at
no cost by calling the National Service Center for
Environmental Publications (NSCEP) 800-490-9198, or the
Water Resource Center (WRC) 202-566-1729. WRCmay be
reached by fax at 202-566-1736; or email: center.water-
resource
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Other Internet Web Sites and
Contacts with Valuable Information
Concerning MTBE:
NSF International, http://www.nsf.org, operates a product
certification program for water treatment equipment that is
rated for MTBE reduction in drinking water. You can find
out about water filtration and obtain names of equipment
manufacturers at this web site, NSF'S general telephone
number is 800-673-6275.
Water Quality Association (WQA), http://www.wqa.org,
is another organization feat discusses water quality Issues
such as MTBE and lias periodic updates on research in
MTBE remediation, WQA's telephone number is
630-505-0160.
American Water Works Association (AWWA) has an MTBE
Resource Center, http://www.awwa.org/mtbe/fact.htm,
AWWA offices in Denver can be reached at 303-794-7711
or in Washington DC at 202-628-8303.
US Department of Health and Human Services, Public
Health Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registiy provides ToxFAQs on MTBE at littp://www.
atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts91.html. Answers to frequently asked
health questions are available by calling 800-447-1544.
GAO Testimony. MTBE Contamination from Underground
Storage Tanks, by John B. Stephenson, director, natural
resources and environment, before the Subcommittee on
Environment and Hazardous Waste, House Committee on
Energy and Commerce. GAO-02-753T, May 21,2002.
http://www.gao.gov/
US Geological Survey
These web sites contains information on MTBE and other
chemical contamination of ground and surface water,
http://wwwsd.cr.usgs.gov/nawqa/vocns/ or
http://water.wr.usgs.gov/mtbe/. Or you can call 1-888-
ASK-USGS for information pertaining to biology, geology,
hydrology, or mapping. Also, you will find state contacts for
the Earth Science Information Centers at http://mac.usgs.
gov/mac/isb/pubs/forms/esicstat.html
Materials Available
From Selected State Programs
California: MTBE in Drinking Water Fact Sheet, http://
www.dhs.caliwnet.gov/ ps/ ddwern/ chemicals/
MTBE/mtbeindex.htm
Iowa: UST Web Site — contains MTBE-specific
information, http://www.state.ia.us/dnr/orpniza/
wmad/lqbureau/ust/
Maine: MTBE Fact Sheet, http://www.state.me.us/dep/
rwnv publications/wprotec. htm
Missouri: MTBE Fact Sheet, littp://www.dnr.state.
mo.us/mtbe
New Hampshire: Fact Sheets on MTBE and related
issues, http://www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/ws/
ws-3-19.htm
Oregon: MTBE Fact Sheet, http://www.deq.state.or.us/
wmc/cleanup/mtbefctsht.htm
This brochure was funded by a grant from the US EPA Office of
Ground Water and Dtinhing Water, Agreement #CX 826881-01-0,
and produced jointly by the National Farm*A*Sy st/Home*A*Syst
Office, and UW-Extension Center for Environment and Energy.
1
photo by Gene Alexander
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May
8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative
Extension. University of Wisconsin-Extension provides equal
opportunities in employment and programming including Title IX
and ADA requirements. If you need this information in an
alternative format, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and
Diversity Programs or call Extension Publishing at (608)262-2655.
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