MTBE

Plymouth 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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	N/A	0	0	N/A
2015	ND	10	0	ND
2016	0.0670 ppb	10	1	ND - 0.670 ppb
2017	ND	11	0	ND
2018	ND	9	0	ND
2019	ND	10	0	ND

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
2015-11-24	ND
2015-11-24	ND
2015-11-24	ND
2015-11-24	ND
2015-11-24	ND
2015-11-24	ND
2015-11-24	ND
2015-11-24	ND
2015-11-24	ND
2015-12-14	ND
2016-10-05	ND
2016-10-05	ND
2016-10-05	ND
2016-10-05	ND
2016-10-05	ND
2016-10-05	ND
2016-10-05	0.670 ppb
2016-10-05	ND
2016-10-05	ND
2016-11-21	ND
2017-01-24	ND
2017-12-07	ND
2017-12-07	ND
2017-12-07	ND
2017-12-07	ND
2017-12-07	ND
2017-12-07	ND
2017-12-07	ND
2017-12-07	ND
2017-12-07	ND
2017-12-07	ND
2018-05-15	ND
2018-10-23	ND
2018-10-23	ND
2018-10-23	ND
2018-10-23	ND
2018-10-23	ND
2018-10-23	ND
2018-10-23	ND
2018-12-19	ND
2019-10-03	ND
2019-10-03	ND
2019-10-03	ND
2019-10-03	ND
2019-10-03	ND
2019-10-03	ND
2019-10-03	ND
2019-10-03	ND
2019-10-03	ND
2019-10-03	ND