MTBE
Status: No national drinking water standard exists
MTBE was used as gasoline oxygenation additive to boost the octane number. In 2005, MTBE was replaced by ethanol as a gasoline additive. MTBE causes cancers in rats.
2015-2017:
FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES
27
states detected
363
utilities detected
5.4 million
people served
2
states over health guideline
2
utilities over health guideline
8,294
people served over health guideline
Health concerns for MTBE
Cancer
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 13 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 13 ppb for MTBE was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting MTBE in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| New York | 0 | 0 | 46 | 2,390,624 | |||
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | 35 | 840,014 | |||
| California | 0 | 0 | 20 | 573,246 | |||
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | 33 | 457,444 | |||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 14 | 314,914 | |||
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 28 | 142,302 | |||
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 5 | 90,311 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 0 | 0 | 8 | 75,749 | |||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 13 | 65,877 | |||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | 33 | 54,694 | |||
| Connecticut | 0 | 0 | 7 | 53,687 | |||
| Virginia | 0 | 0 | 13 | 45,829 | |||
| Missouri | 0 | 0 | 12 | 41,303 | |||
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 4 | 39,783 | |||
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | 20 | 37,852 | |||
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | 18 | 37,634 | |||
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 11 | 33,130 | |||
| Indiana | 0 | 0 | 3 | 29,458 | |||
| Illinois | 0 | 0 | 7 | 28,314 | |||
| Texas | 1 | 8,256 | 8 | 24,676 | |||
| Nebraska | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8,786 | |||
| Iowa | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6,881 | |||
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6,481 | |||
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6,400 | |||
| Maine | 0 | 0 | 6 | 470 | |||
| Rhode Island | 1 | 38 | 3 | 384 | |||
| Utah | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
MORE
LESS
Filtering technologies that reduce MTBE
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of MTBE, 2015-2017
ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalhart Municipal Water System | Dalhart, TX | 3 of 13 | 15.5 ppb | 8,256 |
| Deforest Waterworks | Deforest, WI | 6 of 8 | 10.2 ppb | 9,400 |
| Twin Oaks Trailer Park | Roanoke, VA | 2 of 2 | 8.40 ppb | 50 |
| River Lake Subdivision | Mequon, WI | 2 of 2 | 7.45 ppb | 100 |
| San Bernardino County Medical Center | San Bernardino, CA | 6 of 7 | 6.46 ppb | 1,000 |
| Kennett | Kennett, MO | 35 of 56 | 6.42 ppb | 11,500 |
| Norcross Mobile Home Village | Farmington Hills, GA | 8 of 12 | 6.42 ppb | 543 |
| Klondike Independent School District | Lamesa, TX | 5 of 5 | 6.26 ppb | 264 |
| Marston PWS | Marston, MO | 16 of 17 | 6.09 ppb | 600 |
| Sierra Twain Harte Mobile Home Park | Columbia, CA | 1 of 1 | 5.82 ppb | 120 |
| Cal 20 Village and Meadow Pointe Park | Upper Lake, CA | 8 of 23 | 5.27 ppb | 150 |
| Whispering Pines Mobile Home Park | New Castle, MD | 6 of 6 | 5.14 ppb | 325 |
| Browns Lake Mobile Home Ct | Burlington, WI | 6 of 6 | 5.03 ppb | 225 |
| Rutland Station | Gray, GA | 1 of 1 | 4.90 ppb | 99 |
| Theresa Waterworks | Theresa, WI | 7 of 7 | 4.90 ppb | 1,262 |
| City of Los Banos | Los Banos, CA | 12 of 23 | 4.60 ppb | 37,168 |
| Cassatt Water Kershaw-lee Company RWA | Cassatt, SC | 11 of 24 | 4.47 ppb | 24,879 |
| Atkinson Woods | Atkinson, NH | 3 of 3 | 4.40 ppb | 140 |
| Metropolitan Water District* | West Valley, UT | 4 of 4 | 4.39 ppb | 0 |
| Jacksonport Waterworks | Jacksonport, AR | 1 of 1 | 4.36 ppb | 238 |
| Newport Waterworks* | Newport, AR | 1 of 1 | 4.36 ppb | 2,477 |
| Grubbs Waterworks | Grubbs, AR | 1 of 1 | 4.36 ppb | 907 |
| Diaz Waterworks* | Diaz, AR | 1 of 1 | 4.36 ppb | 1,092 |
| Maryland American Water Company* | Bel Air, MD | 21 of 35 | 4.05 ppb | 13,200 |
| Portageville PWS | Portageville, MO | 33 of 47 | 3.61 ppb | 3,250 |
| Shermans Valley Apartments Perlo III | Loysville, PA | 16 of 19 | 3.60 ppb | 25 |
| Town & Country Mobile Home Park | Stamford, NJ | 6 of 11 | 3.45 ppb | 200 |
| California Water Service (CWS) - Salinas | San Jose, CA | 3 of 110 | 3.32 ppb | 106,858 |
| Waunakee Waterworks | Waunakee, WI | 13 of 13 | 3.27 ppb | 13,322 |
| Miner PWS | Miner, MO | 21 of 35 | 3.21 ppb | 962 |
| Lawrenceville | Lawrenceville, GA | 6 of 8 | 3.13 ppb | 30,000 |
| Woodville | Woodville, GA | 7 of 7 | 2.76 ppb | 354 |
| Millstone Apartments | Harpswell, ME | 3 of 3 | 2.57 ppb | 97 |
| Mills Mobile Home Park 1&2 | Lexington, SC | 12 of 12 | 2.44 ppb | 30 |
| Loon Estates | Northwood, NH | 3 of 3 | 2.40 ppb | 74 |
| Ocean Pines | Berlin, MD | 3 of 3 | 2.34 ppb | 11,890 |
| Bethany Crest LLC | Clarksville, DE | 3 of 3 | 2.32 ppb | 60 |
| Coraopolis Water & Sewer Authority* | Coraopolis, PA | 4 of 4 | 2.25 ppb | 5,804 |
| Prolyn Townhouse Apartments | Pelham, NH | 3 of 3 | 2.17 ppb | 123 |
| Laurel Village Mobile Home Park | Laurel, DE | 19 of 22 | 2.15 ppb | 918 |
| Elsberry PWS | Elsberry, MO | 6 of 9 | 2.11 ppb | 1,963 |
| Blueberry Estates | Lakeville, MA | 4 of 5 | 2.10 ppb | 80 |
| Mound City PWS* | Mound City, MO | 25 of 36 | 2.06 ppb | 1,295 |
| North Concord LLC | Belmont, VT | 3 of 3 | 2.04 ppb | 60 |
| Ridge Spring, Town of* | Ridge Spring, SC | 10 of 10 | 2.03 ppb | 1,308 |
| Wadhams Water District | Westport, NY | 2 of 2 | 2.00 ppb | 87 |
| Lake Barrington Shores Subdivsion | Lake Barrington, IL | 1 of 1 | 1.90 ppb | 2,360 |
| Hunting Lodge Apartments | Waterbury, CT | 1 of 1 | 1.90 ppb | 115 |
| Hartford | Hartford, IL | 7 of 7 | 1.88 ppb | 1,600 |
| Talbotton | Talbotton, GA | 2 of 5 | 1.84 ppb | 733 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report MTBE, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennett | Kennett, MO | 35 of 56 | 6.42 ppb | 11,500 |
| City of Los Banos | Los Banos, CA | 12 of 23 | 4.60 ppb | 37,168 |
| Cassatt Water Kershaw-lee Company RWA | Cassatt, SC | 11 of 24 | 4.47 ppb | 24,879 |
| Maryland American Water Company* | Bel Air, MD | 21 of 35 | 4.05 ppb | 13,200 |
| California Water Service (CWS) - Salinas | San Jose, CA | 3 of 110 | 3.32 ppb | 106,858 |
| Waunakee Waterworks | Waunakee, WI | 13 of 13 | 3.27 ppb | 13,322 |
| Lawrenceville | Lawrenceville, GA | 6 of 8 | 3.13 ppb | 30,000 |
| Ocean Pines | Berlin, MD | 3 of 3 | 2.34 ppb | 11,890 |
| City of Torrance Water Department | Torrance, CA | 10 of 39 | 1.60 ppb | 145,438 |
| City of Waynesboro | Waynesboro, VA | 1 of 2 | 1.25 ppb | 21,006 |
| NJ American Water - Atlantic County | Egg Harbor, NJ | 6 of 51 | 1.13 ppb | 120,146 |
| Yarmouth Water Department* | West Yarmouth, MA | 1 of 1 | 0.820 ppb | 39,635 |
| Dennis Water District | South Dennis, MA | 3 of 3 | 0.690 ppb | 65,000 |
| Breezy Hill WD | Graniteville, SC | 12 of 27 | 0.650 ppb | 13,692 |
| Collingswood Water Depar | Collingswood, NJ | 16 of 25 | 0.645 ppb | 21,000 |
| Marion City Water Works* | Marion, IN | 1 of 1 | 0.600 ppb | 28,327 |
| Aqua NJ - Hamilton Square* | Hamilton, NJ | 35 of 47 | 0.586 ppb | 39,128 |
| Merchantville Pennsauken | Pennsauken, NJ | 14 of 58 | 0.508 ppb | 47,144 |
| Concord Water Department | Concord, MA | 3 of 20 | 0.501 ppb | 16,306 |
| Lake Monticello | Rockville, VA | 1 of 4 | 0.500 ppb | 11,588 |
| Artesian Water Company* | Newark, DE | 33 of 122 | 0.393 ppb | 301,000 |
| Forrest City Waterworks* | Forrest City, AR | 12 of 28 | 0.362 ppb | 15,220 |
| South Huntington Water Department | South Huntington, NY | 2 of 2 | 0.340 ppb | 81,760 |
| Oconomowoc Waterworks | Oconomowoc, WI | 3 of 3 | 0.293 ppb | 15,805 |
| East Lyme Water & Sewer Commission | Niantic, CT | 9 of 38 | 0.292 ppb | 15,245 |
| Willingboro MUA* | Willingboro, NJ | 10 of 15 | 0.289 ppb | 35,000 |
| Orleans Water Department | Orleans, MA | 4 of 26 | 0.265 ppb | 17,670 |
| Garfield Water Department | Garfield, NJ | 15 of 42 | 0.237 ppb | 30,487 |
| New York American Water - Sea Cliff | Merrick, NY | 16 of 54 | 0.229 ppb | 13,400 |
| Cedarburg L & W Commission | Cedarburg, WI | 3 of 3 | 0.223 ppb | 11,900 |
| Guymon | Guymon, OK | 2 of 11 | 0.218 ppb | 11,442 |
| United Water Rahway | Highland Lakes, NJ | 17 of 36 | 0.191 ppb | 27,300 |
| Grafton Waterworks | Grafton, WI | 1 of 1 | 0.180 ppb | 11,745 |
| Westborough Water Department | Westborough, MA | 3 of 39 | 0.175 ppb | 18,272 |
| Upper Southampton Mun Authority | Southampton, PA | 1 of 4 | 0.175 ppb | 16,000 |
| United Water Camden | Camden, NJ | 11 of 21 | 0.152 ppb | 46,585 |
| City of Granbury* | Granbury, TX | 2 of 42 | 0.141 ppb | 11,193 |
| Sikeston* | Sikeston, MO | 5 of 47 | 0.140 ppb | 16,393 |
| Manitowoc Waterworks* | Manitowoc, WI | 1 of 1 | 0.140 ppb | 34,500 |
| Harwich Water Department | East Harwich, MA | 7 of 52 | 0.126 ppb | 38,643 |
| Garden City Park WD | Garden City Park, NY | 20 of 144 | 0.118 ppb | 18,000 |
| Wallingford Water Department | Wallingford, CT | 1 of 17 | 0.118 ppb | 37,267 |
| Park Ridge Water Department | Park Ridge, NJ | 9 of 108 | 0.117 ppb | 16,466 |
| Hicksville WD | Hicksville, NY | 24 of 682 | 0.114 ppb | 48,000 |
| Atlantic City Municipal Utilities Authority | Atlantic City, NJ | 8 of 19 | 0.103 ppb | 152,415 |
| New York American Water - Lynbrook | Merrick, NY | 64 of 481 | 0.0914 ppb | 220,000 |
| Billerica Water Works | Billerica, MA | 1 of 9 | 0.0889 ppb | 40,243 |
| Quakertown Boro | Quakertown, PA | 3 of 24 | 0.0792 ppb | 12,800 |
| Hammonton Water Department | Hammonton, NJ | 10 of 18 | 0.0772 ppb | 12,153 |
| Antioch | Antioch, IL | 1 of 7 | 0.0743 ppb | 13,724 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report MTBE, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.