Title: A Study of the Impact of MTBE on California Drinking   Water Systems: Special Focus on the Lake Tahoe Basin

 

 

Author: Greg Reinert

 

Abstract:   The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of MTBE on drinking water systems, primarily groundwater.  The focus of the report is on California, with a case study of the Lake Tahoe Basin.  An analysis of the history of MTBE use reveals why the current problems of MTBE contamination are taking place.  Also, the chemical properties of MTBE are discussed and related to its devastating effect on groundwater systems.  Once a background of MTBE is established, a case study of the Lake Tahoe Basin can take place.  This case study analyzizes raw data and relates it to the theoretical chemical behavior of MTBE.  Lake Tahoe serves not only as an example of MTBE pollution, but also of regulatory and remediary solutions to the problem.  In conlcuding, some of the more complex social issues such as economic tradeoffs of an MTBE ban are conisdered along with analysis of a replacement: ethanol. 

 

Key References:

  • Squillace, P.J Pope, D.A., and Price, C.V. (1995).  Occurrence of the gasoline additive MTBE in shallow ground water in urban and agricultural areas. 1995 USGS Fact Sheet FS-114-95          
  • Squillace, P.J., Pankow, J.F., Korte, N.E., and Zogorski, J.S. (1996). Environmental Behavior and Fate of Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE).  U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet, FS-203-96, 6 p. (revised 2/98). (PDF Format)

 

  • Johnson, R., Pankow, J., Bender, D., Price, C., and Zorgorski, J.  (2000).  MTBE: To What Extent Will Past Releases Contaminate Community Water Supply Wells?  Environmental Science and Technology, V. 34, Issue 9, pp. 210A
  • Achieving Clean Air and Clean Water: The Report of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Oxygenates in Gasoline. (1999, September 15).  Retrieved March 24, 2002 from http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/fuels/oxypanel/blueribb.htm
  • US Environmental Protection Agency: Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE).  (2001, June 22).  Accessed April 29, 2002 from http://www.epa.gov/mtbe/

greinert@willamette.edu

 

Return to Water Resources Papers page.

 

 

Date: May 2002
Student: *@willamette.edu
ENVR 327: Water Resources
Instructor: Dr. Karen Arabas
http://www.willamette.edu/~karabas/courses/envr327w