MTBE removal - a double-safe approach

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For MTBE removal by filtration, you have two options:

1. You can use a whole house dechlorination unit, with NSF-certified catalytic carbon, such as the Calgon Centurian catalytic carbon. This dechlorination unit can be used whether or not chlorine has been added to the water. If chlorine has been added, then this unit is also effective for removing chloramines, also used in public water treatment.
   
   NSF reviews catalytic carbon and certifies certain manufacturers for MTBE removal. Centurian catalytic carbon by Calgon, the largest carbon filter manufacturer in the US,is one that was certified early on. This product was placed in the Krudico whole house carbon filters as soon as possible after the MTBE issue became known.
   
2. Or, for MTBE removal you can use reverse osmosis technology, with an upgraded solid block carbon post-filter. However, the EPA has not come out and said that this will definitely remove MTBE, which makes us favor the whole house system until more research results are in.
   
   MTBE is a very small organic molecule, under 200 molecular weight. Under the right conditions, it conceivably could go through an opening in the semipermeable membrane of the RO unit. The post-carbon filter should remove the small MTBE molecules, but until there is official guarantee that this is so, we cannot guarantee it, either.
   

From our perspective, the best choice for MTBE removal is to go with both systems, that is, the whole house and the reverse osmosis. With the whole house system, you will get removal of the MTBE and chloramines, plus some heavy metals. With the reverse osmosis and attached carbon filters at the kitchen sink, you will get removal of dissolved heavy metals, arsenic, parasites, VOCs, most bacteria. A UV-light is available for additional bacterial protection.

How do you know if your drinking water contains MTBE?

Click here for a test for MTBE and 93 other chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, etc., in your drinking water. These 93 items are on the EPA's list and NTL's list (National Testing Laboratories) of drinking water pollutants. Parasites are not on this list, note well. Regarding MTBE, bear in mind that it takes time for this substance to permeate the water supply. Your test could be negative today and positive next year.

MTBE (Methyl tertiary butyl ether) made its debut with the public on "60 Minutes," January 16, 2000.  This program described how a gasoline additive, which is supposed to make cars burn cleaner, is contaminating the water supply in many areas. 

MTBE and drinking water - This chemical has been found in water supplies of all 50 states.  In the South Tahoe Public Utility District, 12 of 34 wells had to be closed.   8 states in the Northeast were petitioning Congress to be permitted to make their own determinations regarding this and similar gasoline-additives.

MTBE is an insidious chemical.  One teaspoon can contaminate an Olympic-sized swimming pool.  It spreads quickly, in all directions.  And it is permanent.  You can easily detect its turpentine-like smell when there are only 5 parts in a billion parts of water.

"The stuff moves like wildfire.  It increases exponentially.  Once you find out you have a problem, you have a big problem.  And once it's in, how do you get it out?" said Doug Marsano of the Denver-based American Water Works Association.  This consortium of water agencies has urged President Clinton to ban the substance.

He also called it a "diabolical" chemical and said that a key question is "why a chemical that we don't have a lot of information about is being used in such a widespread manner."  A European study in the mid-90s linked MTBE to liver and kidney tumors in mice. 

MTBE removal from your house air?

As an aside, if you have an attached garage used for car storage and your gasoline contains MTBE, do not be surprised if MTBE infiltrates your home - along with car exhaust fumes and other gasoline and motor oil fumes. The writer of this page just found this chemical in interior air of a Long Island, NY, house with an attached garage used for car storage.

The best approach is NOT to use your garage for car storage if at all possible. Otherwise, you might try putting in an exhaust fan on a timer in the garage to try to evacuate as much of the polluted air as possible after entering or leaving the garage.