For the past several years, the Plainview Water District has led the battle to ban the use of MTBE in automotive gasoline. MTBE is a gasoline additive, which is non-biodegradable, has a propensity to sink into the aquifer system and is soluble in water. Once the compound contaminates groundwater, it is difficult to remove with the traditional methods of air stripping and GAC filtration.

As residents may recall, the water district has taken progressive, landmark legal action against Exxon Mobil Corporation to ensure that the gasoline spill located at Mobil's former station on Old Country Road be cleaned, and that MTBE does not encroach on the community's supply wells. The Board of Commissioners, Edward Shulroff, Kevin Langberg and Joel Kessler, are pleased to report that all Plainview Water District supply wells and plant site outpost monitoring wells are free from MTBE.

"Residents can rest assured that my fellow commissioners and I are committed to protecting our precious drinking water supply," said Commissioner Shulroff. "We have made tremendous strides over the past few years in convincing state and federal government officials to the negative impact MTBE can have on the environment. We will continue to aggressively monitor the quality of our water and take appropriate measures against all polluters."