MTBE Links (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether)
MTBE stands for Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether. It is commonly used as a gasoline additive to reduce engine knocks. A law effectively banning MTBE in Missouri’s gasoline supply was passed in 2002.
A phase-out was concluded July 1, 2005.
Public water systems are routinely tested for MTBE and if any were present in your water system, officials would notify you. MTBE has a very unpleasant taste and a strong turpentine-like odor. If you are on a private well you would be able to smell or taste MTBE contamination long before it would get to a harmful level. EPA has set an advisory level of 20 to 40 parts per billion (ppb) based on the ability of people with a sensitive sense of smell being able to detect it in this range.
Currently Active Sites Where MTBE has been Detected in a
Public or Private Drinking Water Well in Missouri
(The eight public sites are shown in shaded cells)
| Name |
City |
Drinking Water Wells Impacted |
Date MTBE first detected |
Highest Concentration of MTBE detected (ppb) |
How they get their drinking water now |
1. |
The Inside Lane Inc. |
Sikeston |
1 |
1/8/2002 |
1,980 |
Well is out of service. Business connected to city water. |
2. |
Oran |
Oran |
2 |
04/16/99 |
87 |
New drinking water well installed north of town. Concentrations in downgradient monitoring wells are decreasing. |
3. |
City of Kennett |
Kennett |
4 |
8/21/2006 |
Well #8 - 114
Well #5 - 1.69
Well #6 - 2.23
Well #9 - 2.80 |
Well #8 taken offline.
Wells #5, 6 and 9 are still being used. |
4. |
Big Boys Little Store |
Osage Beach |
2 |
10/24/00 |
14.9 |
City water is now being used. |
5. |
Ficken Hill Subdivision (U-Gas Cedar Hill) |
Cedar Hill |
2 |
4/21/1998 |
13.10 |
Level has subsided, well in use. Installed a new well. |
6. |
Miner |
Miner |
2 |
9/23/03 |
11.6 |
Currently using the well |
7. |
Shumaker Tire Co. |
Golden |
1 |
2/17/03 |
4.29 |
Currently using the well |
| 8. |
City of Elsberry |
Elsberry |
1 |
8/7/2002 |
1.17 |
Levels remain below advisory. Well still in use. |
9. |
Blue Harbor Marina |
Osage Beach |
5 |
09/15/92 |
17,000 |
New drinking water wells installed. |
10. |
MPC 18 |
O'Fallon |
3 |
11/17/99 |
5,000 |
Connected to public water supply. |
11. |
Sinclair Retail #24053 |
St. Clair |
1 |
07/21/97 |
1,370 |
New drinking water well installed. |
12. |
Dohickies |
Lesterville |
1 |
7/23/2003 |
650 |
Installed a new well. |
13. |
SOS Convenience Store |
Cassville |
1 |
8/26/1993 |
500 |
Impacted well replaced and SOS connected to city water. |
14. |
Former J & K Grocery & Package |
Doniphan |
1 |
11/2/2001 |
195 |
Impacted water line replaced. Well not in use. |
15. |
R & S MiniMart |
Catawissa |
7 |
6/17/1998 |
74.2 |
Installed two deeper wells. Residents on the remaining wells are still using their wells. Concentrations remain below MCLs. |
16. |
Miltenberger Office Building |
Bolivar |
1 |
8/12/02 |
35 |
Bottled water being used. |
17. |
Al and Peg's Café |
Halfway |
1 |
09/24/92 |
27 |
Hooked to the city well. |
18. |
Metro Express |
Joplin |
3 |
02/04/93 |
27 |
Connected to neighbor’s water supply. |
19. |
Wood Property (Villa Ridge Zephyr) |
Villa Ridge |
2 |
10/19/2000 |
8.7 |
Carbon filtration system and
chlorinator installed. |
20. |
Xpress Texaco Truck Stop |
Carthage |
1 |
7/28/1999 |
5.9 |
New drinking water well |
| 20 sites |
|
42 wells impacted |
|
|
|
| 12/2009 |
EPA’s Advisory for MTBE = 20-40 ppb
Well replacement for some of these sites was financed through the Petroleum Storage Tank Insurance Fund.
Where can I get more information?
PUB2080--MTBE
Summary of Facts (12/09)
A fact sheet containing more information, maps and tables.
