For your convenience you can always find our test results and other useful information on this web page. These sample results as well as a summary of contaminants that we sample for can be found in our 2000 annual water quality report. Use MTBE is used as an oxygenate additive to gasoline. It was first used in the late 1970 s as a replacement for lead to boost octane and more recently to promote complete burning and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and organic combustion products. The use of oxygenates in gasoline is required in certain areas of the United States where air standard quality standards are exceeded.
New Jersey is required to sell oxygenated gas year round.
MTBE is especially problematic because it has a low taste and odor threshold, and tends to migrate in subsurface systems faster than other constitutes of gasoline. Currently 32 areas in 17 states sell reformulated gasoline. Reformulated gasoline accounts for about 30 percent of the gasoline sold nationwide, and MTBE is used in about 84 percent of the reformulated gas. The main sources of localized MTBE contamination of ground water supplies are leaking underground storage tanks and pipelines, spills, contaminated sites, and MTBE manufacturing and storage sites. Storm water contaminated with MTBE from gasoline leaks and spills may also contribute to ground water or surface water pollution.