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TRENDS IN METHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER CONCENTRATIONS IN PRIVATE WELLS IN SOUTHEAST NEW HAMPSHIRE: 2005 TO 2015
Flanagan, S., J. Levitt, and J. Ayotte.
Environmental Science & Technology 51(3):1168-1175(2017)
In southeast New Hampshire, where reformulated gasoline was used from the 1990s to 2007, MTBE concentrations ≥ 0.2 µg/L were found in water from 26.7% of 195 domestic wells sampled in 2005. In 2015 (8 yr after MTBE was banned), 10.3% continued to have MTBE. Most wells (140 of 195) had no MTBE detections (concentrations < 0.2 µg/L) in 2005 and 2015. On average, MTBE concentrations decreased 65% among 47 wells, whereas MTBE concentrations increased 17% among 4 wells between 2005 and 2015. The percent change in detection frequency from 2005 to 2015 (the decontamination rate) was lowest in areas of high population density and in wells completed in the Berwick Formation geologic units. The decontamination rate was highest where population densities were low and wells were completed in bedrock composed of granite, metamorphic, and mafic rocks. Wells in the Berwick Formation are characteristically deeper and have lower yields than wells in other rock types and have shallower overburden cover, which may allow for more rapid transport of MTBE from land-surface releases. Slide presentation: https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/resource/sarah-flannagan-mswc-2017/
Environmental Science & Technology 51(3):1168-1175(2017)
In southeast New Hampshire, where reformulated gasoline was used from the 1990s to 2007, MTBE concentrations ≥ 0.2 µg/L were found in water from 26.7% of 195 domestic wells sampled in 2005. In 2015 (8 yr after MTBE was banned), 10.3% continued to have MTBE. Most wells (140 of 195) had no MTBE detections (concentrations < 0.2 µg/L) in 2005 and 2015. On average, MTBE concentrations decreased 65% among 47 wells, whereas MTBE concentrations increased 17% among 4 wells between 2005 and 2015. The percent change in detection frequency from 2005 to 2015 (the decontamination rate) was lowest in areas of high population density and in wells completed in the Berwick Formation geologic units. The decontamination rate was highest where population densities were low and wells were completed in bedrock composed of granite, metamorphic, and mafic rocks. Wells in the Berwick Formation are characteristically deeper and have lower yields than wells in other rock types and have shallower overburden cover, which may allow for more rapid transport of MTBE from land-surface releases. Slide presentation: https://umaine.edu/mitchellcenter/resource/sarah-flannagan-mswc-2017/
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