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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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MTBE

Fairfax County Water Authority

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.

 

36

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
2014ND70ND
2015ND50ND
2016ND50ND
2017ND50ND
2018ND70ND
2019ND70ND

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
2014-01-09FW14010902-03_VOND
2014-01-09FW14010902-05_VOND
2014-01-09FW14010902-04_VOND
2014-07-31FW14071802-03_VOND
2014-07-31FW14071802-05_VOND
2014-07-31FW14071802-04_VOND
2014-07-31FW14071802-06_VOND
2015-01-1400125-FAIRFAX COND
2015-07-2300125-FAIRFAX COND
2015-07-2300125-FAIRFAX COND
2015-07-2300125-FAIRFAX COND
2015-07-2300125-FAIRFAX COND
2016-01-13FW151230004-04_VND
2016-07-21FW160617086-03_VND
2016-07-21FW160617086-04_VND
2016-07-21FW160617086-05_VND
2016-07-21FW160617086-06_VND
2017-03-03FW170223005-04_VND
2017-09-08FW170821071-03_VND
2017-09-08FW170821071-06_VND
2017-09-08FW170821071-05_VND
2017-09-08FW170821071-04_VND
2018-01-22FW180118015-03_VND
2018-01-22FW180118015-04_VND
2018-01-22FW180118015-05_VND
2018-07-19FW180711008-03_VND
2018-07-19FW180711008-04_VND
2018-07-19FW180711008-05_VND
2018-07-19FW180711008-06_VND
2019-01-09FW181115006-03_VND
2019-01-09FW181115006-04_VND
2019-01-09FW181115006-05_VND
2019-07-12FW190626020-03_VND
2019-07-12FW190626020-04_VND
2019-07-12FW190626020-05_VND
2019-07-12FW190626020-06_VND