MTBE Water Contamination in Hempstead
Nassau News Staff Writer
Since the 1970s, Long Island has had many instances of gasoline additive MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) leaking into drinking water as a result of irresponsible practices by gas stations. The chemical has potential to make water taste and smell unpleasant and many scientists speculate that its consumption can cause body aches, cancer, and even death. In February 2008, multiple MTBE spills were discovered in the Town of Hempstead, NY. Although the chemical was banned in 2004 in New York, old spills are still being discovered and there have been instances of illegal use of the chemical by gas stations.
To view a video presentation of this article, click on the embedded player below. Click here to read a transcript of this video.
Read the print version of this article below.
MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) is a harmful fossil fuel formerly used in motor gasoline until New York State banned it in 2004 due to its potentially damaging effects on human health. MTBE has been found in Hempstead in February 2008 in the form of an old oil spill which had not been previously detected and had never been cleaned, according to Newsday. There have been at least two MTBE spills in Hempstead which did not meet cleanup standards.
Because gasoline spills and the leaking of gasoline from underground storage tanks has become a widespread problem, the use of MTBE as a fossil fuel has been reduced and in many states banned. MTBE is water soluble and easily permeates in water, more so than other chemicals found in gasoline. Multiple fuel leaks have caused many water aquifers to become tainted with the chemical, especially on Long Island, where it has been a reoccurring problem since the 70s, U.S. Water News Online says. When the chemical leaks into aquifers, it moves into tap water, sometimes giving it an unpleasant taste and smell, when present in high enough quantities. Scientists suspect health ramifications range from sore throats and body aches to cancer and death, according to Public Citizen, a national non-profit public interest organization.
MTBE is difficult and expensive to remove from water and taxpayers often end up paying the price: an estimated $2.5 million for the 32 MTBE sites detected in Long Island in February. Long Island has had 24 percent of the state's total spills, which is more than any region in New York. Long Island also had the highest quantities of the chemical per spill. The gasoline spills have the capacity to affect the drinking water of approximately 2.7 million Long Island residents, including Hempstead residents.
Carelessness by gas stations often causes and exacerbates the spills, according to many environmental groups. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) must hire private contractors to investigate the extent of the contaminations and clean them. Many environmental groups, such as Citizens Campaign for the Environment, say gas station owners typically refuse to investigate and often deny responsibility in incidents of MTBE spills. It is difficult to determine which gas station caused each leak, making legal action against guilty parties difficult. Water districts, environmentalists, and politicians try to remedy this issue and protect communities from MTBE consumption; litigation banning MTBE and stricter investigations and ramifications against gas stations which continue to illegally use MTBE in New York, are some ways to combat MTBE contamination, according to the United States General Accounting Office.Water on Long Island is tested multiple times per year by water companies for MTBE, according to Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. However, Esposito says contamination is still a threat in instances where the chemical has contaminated water in between water company inspections. Esposito says MTBE, even when present in water in legal amounts, can be detrimental to health over time.
Graphics, Charts and Figures Concerning MTBE
- To view a map of MTBE sites in Hempstead, NY and surrounding areas, click here
- To view an illustration of how MTBE enters water supplies, click here.
- To view an illustration of the chemical properties of MTBE, click here.
- To view a chart of Ethanol and MTBE Consumption in the Transportation Sector (1992-2004), click here.
- To view a table of frequencies of MTBE detections in groundwater in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, click here.
- To view a chart of world consumption of MTBE in 2004, click here.
- To view a map of states that have banned MTBE as of 2004, click here.
Related Links
- This is a two-year-old investigatory report by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation which probes the potential sources of MTBE water contamination on Long Island and how it might impact water supplies. It found 53 percent of sites investigated in Nassau County exceeded the New York State Department of Health drinking water standard of MTBE permitted in drinking water.
- This is a three-year-old press release from Senator Schumer which revealed previously undisclosed MTBE leaks. It states that the average Long Island taxpayer would spend an extra $260 per year to clean up the spills.
- This is an article from Citizens Campaign for the Environment from April 9, 2006, which discusses how the toxic chemical MTBE continues to taint hundreds of drinking water wells across the state, despite the chemical being legally banned.
- This is the latest news story involving MTBE (from the February 28, 2008, Newsday), which contends that petroleum spills have been detected throughout Nassau County which have not been previously detected.
- This is a March 2008 article from U.S. Water News Online which cites the state Department of Environmental Conservation in its claims that MTBE still poses a threat to Long Island drinking water
Additional video interviews
To view a video of Chemistry Professor William Nirode of Hofstra University explaining the dangers of MTBE as well as its chemical properties, click on the embedded player below.
To view part II of the Nirode interview, click on the embedded player below. To read a transcript of this interview, click here.
To view a video of the interview with geologist Jeff Wills of Roux Associates Inc.,-Environmental Consulting and Management, in which Wills discusses just how safe he believes Nassau County drinking water to be, click the embedded player below. To read a transcript of this interview, click here
To view a video of the interview with Hofstra University geology professor Bret Bennington, in which Bennington talks about Long Island drinking water, click on the embedded player below.To read a transcript of this interview, click here.
To view a video of the interview with Joe Duminuco, Vice President of Roux Associates Inc. - Environmental Consulting and Management , who speaks about the ramifications of polluting drinking water with MTBE, click the embedded player below.To read a transcript of this interview, click here.
To view an interview with Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Adrienne Esposito, who speaks about laws involving MTBE and what the average citizen can do about it, click the embedded player below.
To view Part II of the Esposito interview, click on the embedded player below. To read a transcript of this interview, click here.
Click here to read my production memo.
Click here to read my blog, which has additional information on MTBE.
