South Dakota Water Science Center
DATA CENTER
INFORMATION CENTER
USGS IN YOUR STATEUSGS Water Science Centers are located in each state. 
|
MTBE in Ground Water of the United States--Occurrence, Potential Sources, and Long-Range TransportMichael J. Moran, John S. Zogorski and Paul J. SquillaceU.S. Geological Survey, 1608 Mountain View Road, Rapid City, SD 57702 USA Phone (605) 355-4560 ext. 244; Telecopier (605) 355-4523, mjmoran@usgs.gov Under mandates of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, oxygenates must be added to gasoline in some areas of the United States (U.S.) to reduce ozone formation and carbon monoxide emissions. Today methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is the most commonly used oxygenate and in some areas MTBE is also used as an octane enhancer. The large-scale use of MTBE combined with its high solubility, low soil adsorption, and low biodegradability have resulted in its detection in many ground-water systems. Low concentrations (< 20 (g/L) of MTBE have been detected frequently in ambient ground water in areas of the U.S. where substantial (> 5% by volume in gasoline) amounts of MTBE are used. Some of this ground water is used for domestic and public water supplies. The detection frequencies of MTBE in ambient ground water are about 21% in areas that use substantial amounts of the compound and 2% in areas that do not use substantial (< 5% by volume in gasoline) amounts of MTBE. On the basis of limited monitoring data, public water supplies have been affected by low concentrations of MTBE with a frequency of detection of about 7%. MTBE in ground water can come from a variety of point and nonpoint sources. Low concentrations (< 20 (g/L) may have originated at either point or nonpoint sources but high concentrations (> 20 (g/L) are generally associated with large releases from point sources such as gasoline stations or pipelines. However, high concentrations can also result from small point source releases or certain nonpoint sources such as areas where concentrations of MTBE in air are high. High concentrations of MTBE have been reported in ground water used for some domestic and public water supplies. In some cases, treatment of the water has been necessary for removal of MTBE or the wells had to be removed from service. At some sites, MTBE has migrated much farther than other common gasoline components and those long travel distances increase the probability that MTBE will be detected in a drinking-water well and that treatment may be required. Presented: Water Resources Conference, American Water Works Association, Norfolk, Va., Sept. 26-29, 1999 [Proceedings]. |
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://sd.water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pubs/abstracts/moran/AWWA.mtbe.html
Page Contact Information: Webmaster
Page Last Modified: Monday, 23-Jul-2007 15:29:21 EDT
