Hinkley, California, the town made famous by Erin Brockovich, remains plagued by toxic chromium-6 contamination decades after its water crisis gained national attention.
Silvia Foster-Frau reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Chromium-6 levels in Hinkley’s groundwater remain dangerously high, with some wells testing at 2,500 times the state’s safety standard.
- PG&E’s cleanup, ongoing since the 1990s, has removed 89% of the contaminant but faces criticism for slow progress and a push for relaxed regulatory goals.
- The contamination has left Hinkley largely depopulated, with many residents experiencing serious health issues and others abandoning their homes.
Key quote:
The water crisis “is still going on, and it’s not going to be taken care of in our lifetime. … I don’t think it’s ever going to end.”
— Roberta Walker, former Hinkley resident
Why this matters:
Chromium-6 contamination in Hinkley illustrates systemic challenges in addressing industrial pollution. Protracted cleanups and corporate resistance can leave communities grappling with environmental and health crises for generations, raising broader concerns about regulatory effectiveness and corporate accountability.
