The Greenspace Insider Volume 2, Number 1 January, 2002 What is MtBE and why is it in g asoline? MtBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether) is a volatile or- ganic compound. MtBE is a component of reformulated or oxygenated gasoline. It is used as an octane booster and was thought to reduce highly toxic pollutants like carbon monoxide and ozone in ambient air . Conventional gaso- line has MtBE amounts in various levels. Typically it is around 3% by volume and in some areas, like California, it can be as high as 1 1%. The percentages of MtBE in gaso- line are related to the National Air Quality Standards and the standards of air quality in California. How does MtBE get into drinkin g water? Contamination of ground water with MtBE is most likely a result of leaky underground storage t anks. In some cases it is a result of gasoline spills. Spills can occur as you refuel your vehicle, boat, or other device requiring fuel. Spills can occur from leaks in automobile fuel sys- tems or occur from improperly disposing of old gasoline. Spills, no matter what their size, can have serious i mpacts depending on the vulnerability of nearby wells. Because of its solubility in water and resistance to decomposition, MtBE moves rapidly in groundwater, indeed faster than do other gasoline components such as the chemicals ben - zene, methylbenzene, toluene and xylene. Is MtBE in drin king water harmful? It is Greenspace’s position that MtBE in drinking wa- ter is potentially harmful to your health. The National Acade my of Scien ces has stated, “…substantial evi- dence exists that gasoline containing MtBE is detri- mental to the health of humans.” Furthermore, the report says, “MtBE in gasoline causes respiratory il lnesses (e.g., shortness of breath, asthma, bronchitis, and a variety of breathing problems) and allergic illnesses (e.g., sinus problems and nasal and upper respiratory irrita- tion). Reported neurological illnesses include headache, anxiety, in- ability to concentrate, lightheadedness, insomnia , and depression. T est results in experimental animals showed that MtBE is a probable hu- man carcinogen and causes cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma, as well as malignancies of the kidney , testes and liver. ” The question is, of course, how much MtBE does it take to cause these or other ailments t o occur? As in most issues that have a huge health and economic impact on society the jury is still out. Some say they have the answer while others say the evidence i s not adequate to state one way or another. Should Chevron Corporation be allowed to dis - charge tr eated w ater into Santa Rosa Creek? The answer is yes if the water is clean and no if the water has detectable amounts of components of gasoline like the ones discussed above. There are sim- ply too many conflict- ing health studies and so called “safe” amounts of gasoline by-products in drinking water to categorically tell people that the wa- ter is at “drinking wa- ter st andards”. For in- stance, the Environ- mental Protection Agency has implemented standards of drinking water that allow more parts per billion of gasoline additives than California’s threshold. Instruments that are able to detect even smaller amounts of water pollutants now exist in California Certified Labo- ratories that monitor clean drinking water . These smaller amounts need to be the new standard for drinking water. What will Greenspace tell the Regional Water Quality Control Board regarding Chevron’s application to dis- charge treated grou ndwater int o Santa Rosa Creek? It is the Greenspace position that polluters should be hel d to the standards of the existing technology to detect pollution. In other words, the State of California says it is safe to discharge 5.0 parts per billion of MtBE in Santa Rosa Creek and we say that water analysis equipment, available today in California Certified Laboratories, can detect much lower levels of MtBE and other components of gasoline. If MtBE cannot be detected by this equipment, then this is the standard we must achieve. Any- thing less is not ac- ceptable. Chevron must keep their word that they will clean up the mess. We want any water discharged into Santa Rosa Creek to have non-detect- able levels of pollut- ants. The “clean drinking water” standards of the California Regional Water Qual ity Control Board need to reflect the technology currently available. Furthermore, independent w ater sampling and monitoring needs to be implemented if Chevron is allowed to discharge into the creek. Greenspace will ask to be that independent monitor. SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS REGARDING MtBE Jet Skier recreating on drinking water Common culprits for potential MtBE contamination One sour ce of potential contamination