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Occurrence of MTBE in drinking water sources
Author(s) -
Gullick Richard W.,
LeChevallier Mark W.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.2000.tb08792.x
Subject(s) - environmental chemistry , environmental science , odor , groundwater , gasoline , surface water , activated carbon , waste management , environmental engineering , chemistry , adsorption , geology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
A recent survey investigates the prevalence of MTBE in drinking water supplies and evaluates the efficacy of treatment for MTBE removal. Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is of concern to the drinking water supply profession because of its strong taste and odor effects, potential risk to human health, tendency to migrate rapidly in groundwater, and resistance to conventional water treatment processes. An occurrence survey was performed from 1997 to 1998 to assess the prevalence of MTBE in surface and subsurface drinking water supplies. The survey examined 342 wells in 17 states, and MTBE was detected at least once in 30 wells (~8.8 percent). All samples were below the US Environmental Protection Agency's taste and odor advisory level of 20 μg/L. In addition, 92 surface water sites in 12 states were evaluated, and MTBE was detected at least once at eight sites (~8.7 percent). The highest concentration (25.1 μg/L) was detected downstream from a known gasoline release. Aeration removed up to 76 percent of low concentrations of MTBE, but activated carbon adsorption was relatively ineffective.