Hinkley water still contaminated by hexavalent chromium

HINKLEY, CA, Nov. 8, 2010 -- Water quality regulators revealed last week that higher-than-normal levels of hexavalent chromium have been detected over the past year in San Bernardino County groundwater, despite a standing order for Pacific Gas and Electric to clean up the area.

Tests reveal that the cancer-causing toxin has been detected more than a half-mile beyond the previous known boundary of contamination, a scandal that plagued the town of Hinkley and formed the basis for the movie Erin Brockovitch a decade ago.

PG&E representatives said the levels of hexavalent chromium in the new location were never above California's safe drinking water standard, but residents are angry that any levels of chromium 6 were detected at all.

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