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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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MTBE

Orleans Water Department

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.

 

35

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND30ND
20150.367 ppb123ND - 1.80 ppb
20160.250 ppb101ND - 2.50 ppb
2017ND40ND
2018ND30ND
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 Result
2014-05-14ND
2014-05-14ND
2014-05-14ND
2015-06-10ND
2015-06-100.900 ppb
2015-06-101.70 ppb
2015-08-121.80 ppb
2015-08-12ND
2015-08-12ND
2015-10-01ND
2015-10-14ND
2015-10-14ND
2015-10-14ND
2015-10-14ND
2015-10-14ND
2016-02-10ND
2016-02-10ND
2016-02-10ND
2016-06-08ND
2016-06-08ND
2016-06-08ND
2016-08-102.50 ppb
2016-08-10ND
2016-08-10ND
2016-11-16ND
2017-01-31ND
2017-05-23ND
2017-05-23ND
2017-05-23ND
2018-06-13ND
2018-06-13ND
2018-06-13ND
2019-05-15ND
2019-05-15ND
2019-05-15ND