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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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MTBE

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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.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND40ND
2015N/A00N/A
2016N/A00N/A
2017N/A00N/A
2018ND50ND
2019ND30ND

ppb = parts per billion

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

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-02-26LLF10348ND
2014-06-30LLF24951ND
2014-09-22LLF39454ND
2014-12-16LLF49749ND
2018-09-04LLI02871ND
2018-09-27LLI08551ND
2018-10-08LLI10378ND
2018-10-23LLI12469ND
2018-10-23LLI12468ND
2019-03-20LLI29899ND
2019-06-04LLI40689ND
2019-10-07LLI69359ND