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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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MTBE

Rio Waterworks

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.

 

20

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND60ND
2015ND30ND
2016ND30ND
2017ND20ND
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 Lab ID Result
2014-07-28147663002ND
2014-07-28147663001ND
2014-08-04148747001ND
2014-08-04148748001ND
2014-09-09155868001ND
2014-09-09155866001ND
2015-02-09178688001ND
2015-08-12211381001ND
2015-08-12211382001ND
2016-07-21267709001ND
2016-08-31274996001ND
2016-08-31274994001ND
2017-09-19923296ND
2017-09-19923305ND
2018-07-10393175001ND
2018-08-15401207001ND
2018-08-15401204001ND
2019-02-19431942001ND
2019-08-12462739001ND
2019-08-12462737001ND