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CONCENTRATIONS, SOURCES, AND FATE OF THE GASOLINE OXYGENATE METHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER (MTBE) IN A MULTIPLE-USE LAKE. (R826282)
Citation:
Reuter, J. E., B. C. Allen, R. C. Richards, J. F. Pankow, C. R. Goldman, R. L. Scholl, AND J. S. Seyfried. CONCENTRATIONS, SOURCES, AND FATE OF THE GASOLINE OXYGENATE METHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER (MTBE) IN A MULTIPLE-USE LAKE. (R826282). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 32(23):3666-3672, (1998).
Description:
Discovery of the fuel additive methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in
drinking water supplies is of concern to public health officials, water
suppliers, and the public. Despite recent policy decisions, few published
studies exist on the concentrations, sources, and fate of MTBE in surface
waters. The purpose of this study was to determine (1) the relative contribution
of motorized watercraft as a source of MTBE, (2) its seasonal distribution, (3)
loss from the water column, (4) the extent of vertical transport, and (5) its
persistence between years; this work was done in Donner Lake, California, a
multiple-use lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. MTBE measurements were made at
9 individual depths from surface to bottom on 16 dates. Recreational boating was
the most important source of MTBE. Statistically, 86% of the change in MTBE was
explained by variation in motorized watercraft use. Neither highway runoff nor
precipitation contributed significantly. MTBE concentration ranged from <0.1 
g?L-1 to a high of 12 g?L-1. Between July 1
and 7, 1997, MTBE content rose dramatically from 115 to 365 kg. By January,
levels had declined to a minimum of 15 kg, suggesting little interannual
persistence. The major loss of MTBE appeared to be volatilization at the
air-water interface characterized by two distinct periods. During the boating
season, MTBE decline was 1.2 kg?day-1 (193 day half-life).
At the end of the boating season, MTBE loss increased to 8.1
kg?day-1 (14 day half-life). Thermal stratification acted
to retard MTBE transport to deeper depths.