Ethanol causes groundwater contamination

- Ethanol attracts water molecules that corrode pipelines.

- Corroded pipelines cause groundwater contamination.

= Ethanol causes groundwater contamination.

- Contaminating groundwater will kill wildlife.

- Killing wildlife is bad.

= Contaminating groundwater is bad.

During the past few years as oil and gasoline prices have soared and the desire for an alternative fuel has risen dramatically. One fuel alternative for our automobiles is ethanol which has been praised for its environmental benefits concerning its much reduced carbon dioxide emissions. As popular as ethanol has become in some parts of the country it has not been able to make its way to coastal areas far from the production sites because the transportation costs have been too high. Some have suggested that dedicated pipelines similar to those built for transporting gasoline should be built in order to supply these areas with ethanol. One difference that we can find between gasoline and ethanol however is that ethanol attracts water molecules that then corrode pipelines. As pipelines corrode, the risk of them leaking dangerously increases. And if ethanol leaks into the ground the high solubility of the chemical would allow it to seep deep into the earth and contaminate the groundwater that is vital to our water supply. Even though the benefits of ethanol are great concerning the reduction of greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere, it does not warrant the risk that these pipelines would pose to our water supply. We should not build pipelines to transport ethanol.