The state reported Friday that about 150 wells have been tested. Richard McIntire, a spokesman for the department, said results are back on 64 wells. Of that number, he said, 34 properties have traces of MTBE — methyl tertiary butyl ether — in their water.
He said seven properties exceed the level that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends as safe.
MTBE, a flammable liquid with a distinct, turpentine-like odor, has been widely used since 1990 as a gasoline additive to burn fuel more cleanly. The EPA has required its use in gas sold in states such as Maryland that have a summertime ozone pollution problem.
Although the EPA says there are no studies of the effects of drinking MTBE-contaminated water, it has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals at high doses in inhalation studies.
Search for source
The Department of the Environment has centered its investigation of the MTBE contamination at an Exxon gas station at Routes 165 and 152.
The source of the contamination has not been determined.
McIntire said Exxon Mobil Corp., which owns the station, has been distributing bottled water to residents. He said the company has also installed carbon filtration systems in 19 homes.
Testing available
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The oil company has been paying to test all wells within a half-mile of the station.
Dr. Andrew Bernstein, the county health officer, encouraged all homeowners within the half-mile radius to have their wells tested as soon as possible.
Traces of MTBE were also detected several months ago at the Fallston Presbyterian Church on Route 152, several miles from the Exxon station.
State officials said they believe the traces found in the church’s water supply was an isolated situation not related to the contamination at homes near the Exxon station.
The Rev. Mitchell Miller said the church installed its own filtration system and was assured by the Department of the Environment that its water is safe.
He said he is waiting for information from the state on the source of the contamination.
Miller complained that the state was slow in responding to the contamination.
“We kept waiting for them to tell us what to do,” he said. “It was virtually impossible to get information from the state.”
He said the church installed its own filtration system with the help of an engineer who is a member of the congregation.
Meeting tomorrow
The Harford County Health Department and the state Department of the Environment will hold a community meeting tomorrow night to discuss the water problems that Upper Crossroads residents first learned about two weeks ago.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Fallston High School, 2301 Carrs Mill Road.