Drinking water smell funny? Well, well, well.

MTBE, which has been around since the late 1970s, was first used to boost octane in gasoline as lead was phased out as an "anti-engine knock" additive. Prior to 2001, it was added to gasoline to enhance combustion, thus reducing emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and other combustion by-products. Although banned in Washington in 2001, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) analysis, there were more than 2,600 sites in Washington state awaiting cleanup from MTBE contamination in 2002. Most people can detect MTBE by a strong taste and odor that is described as turpentine-like. The drinking water advisory for MTBE recommends water quality control levels of MTBE not exceed 20 to 40 parts per billion. The EPA has ruled, based on information so far, that this level of detection provides a wide margin of safety from any possible toxic effect. The National Ground Water Association recommends that well owners get their water tested annually. Visit their website for more info http://www.wellowner.org/awaterquality/mtbe.shtml