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_ I .0 - f -.- n�-.t�r,1-fr.-a+i-S»-y-ta. v�a.r.- r,r ._ r ) ♦ • r I . _ - f� f..�I ♦ r t 10/12/1.995 20:44 9163519357 ANNE M FARR PAGE 08 situation vis a vis ground water. All arc more soluble than MTBE.-and TBA is almost irnpossiblc to remove by carbon adsorpoon or air stripping (APT. 1983). But octane; enhancement without additives is possible (DoE, 1985). It is achieved by "reforming" some of the components of the distillate dunng the refining process so that the _ refined gasoline almady has sufficient octane.Some producers prefer this "refonnate" method of obtaining the required octane, and it does not have the envirotunenial disadvantages of MTBE or its alcoholic competitors. Option 2: Because the increased mobility of plumes containing MTBE results in greatly increased volumes of contaminated ground water, gasolincs in which MTBE is blended could perhaps be stored only in double-contained facilities. or those with sensitive and effective lcak j detection systems. (71its policy option may also have to be applied to gasolines blended with t any highly soluble addidve.) Option 3: Because of the rise in popularity of MTBE and other very soluble additives to replace lead as the octane enhance, it is perhaps time to acknowledge that all underground storage must be as secure as possible. One Final Point. The Human Side of MTBE Contamination. ! Several colleagues have commented that MTBE may be useful as a contaminant tracer ' because it is apparently less toxic, and precedes and travels further than the BTX components. ! We beg to differ. That opinion forgets the human element of gasoline spills. t The North Berwick spill contaminated the wells of two homes to concentrations an order of magnitude,higher than if there had been no MTBE. The young couple in one of those homes had to wait for us to invent a whole new method of water treatment for their houscfold supply The young family in the other decided that water treatment was not the way to go, and chose instead to truck in water,at considerable expense and nuisance. The fact that MTBE appears to be less toxic than benzene was no consolation to the parents of young children. The anguish these two families underwent cannot be put into words. The six other homes in North Berwick with only MTBE in their water were worried about when they would get gasoline too. The trauma associated with the contamination of a home water supply is not proportional to the toxicity of the contaminant detected. References American Petroleum Institute, 1983.Treatment Technology for Removal of Dissolved Gasoline Components from Ground Water. API Publ.4369. 34p and appendices. American Petrolcurn Instizinz, 1995, Li•zeir2tum Survey: Hydrocarbon So!ub:L•::es and A::cnuanon Mechanisms: API Publ_ 4414, 101p. Barker, ].P.. G.CPatrick, and D.Major, 1987, Natural Attenuation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons in a Shallow Sand Aquifer. Ground Water Monitoring Review, v.7. pp. 64.71. DepazTment of Energy, 1985, Gasoline Octane Enhancement: Technology. Economics, and Environmental. Health and Safety Considerations: DOFJPW72013-1. Fujiwara, Y.. T_Kinoshita. H.Sato, and I.Kojima, 1984, Biodegradation and Bioconccntralion of Alkyl Ethers: Yukagatu, v. 33. pp.111-114. Hall. D W , and Mumford, R.L., 1987. Interim Private Water Well Remediation using Carbon Adsorption- Ground Water Monitoring Review. v.7. pp_77-83. Lowry, J.D., and S.Lowry, 1985. Restoration of gasoline-contaminated household waiter supplies: Proc. 2nd Annual Eastern Regional Ground Waicr CogiNrcric:e. N.ai i4iii.il Water Well Association, pp 506-521. -.