AWWA WQTC57181

In a Department of Environmental Protection (department) study, 196 water samples were collected from the distribution systems of 167 small surface water filtration plants throughout Pennsylvania. All samples were collected during the summers of 2000 and 2001 as part of a study on trihalomethanes. The samples were analyzed for Volatile Organic Compounds to determine if Pennsylvania was following the national and regional trend. This sudy was one of only a few studies on MTBE in treated water from the distribution system. The samples were collected in two 40- milliliter amber glass vials and preserved with ascorbic acid and 0.5 milliliters of l:l hydrochloric acid. The department's Bureau of Laboratories analyzed the samples using US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 524.2. Twenty of the 196 samples had detectable levels of MTBE. The detectable levels of MTBE were well below the EPA advisory level for taste and odor. Includes 3 references, tables, figures.