Peer Reviewed: Will Ethanol-Blended Gasoline Affect Groundwater Quality? (original) (raw)

2001, Environmental Science & Technology

ethyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) contamination in groundwater and surface water in the United States is widespread and currently considered a major threat to drinking water resources (1 3). The fuel additive is therefore being phased out, and it is highly likely that ethanol will replace it. To ensure public safety, possible impacts to groundwater quality resulting from any releases of ethanol-blended gasoline must be understood. Typical scenarios include leaks of ethanol-blended gasoline from underground storage tanks, accidents with railroad cars or tanker trucks, and spills of neat ethanol at distribution terminals. The potential impacts of such releases were the focus of an extensive literature review prepared for the state of California (4) in response to Governor Davis's Executive Order calling for the removal of MTBE from California's gasoline by December 31, 2 0 0 2 Ethanol-Blended