Bronte Wells
Between 1952 and 1966, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) dumped around 370 million gallons of hexavalent chromium-tainted wastewater into unlined ponds near Hinkley, California. This highly toxic chemical, also known as chromium 6, was used to prevent rust in the machinery at PG&E's natural gas compressor station. As a result, the groundwater in Hinkley became contaminated, affecting the soil and water wells near the station. This led to a class-action lawsuit, which was settled in 1996 for $333 million. Despite ongoing cleanup efforts, hexavalent chromium continues to haunt the town, and it has struggled to recover from the impact of the pollution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Hinkley, California |
| Contaminant | Hexavalent Chromium (Chromium-6) |
| Company Responsible | Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) |
| Time Period of Contamination | 1952-1966 (some sources say until 1964) |
| Amount of Contaminated Water | 370 million gallons |
| Health Effects | Cancer and other serious ailments |
| Legal Action | Class-action lawsuit settled in 1996 for $333 million |
| Cleanup Efforts | Ongoing; PG&E has spent over $750 million on remediation as of 2013 |
| Current Status | Hinkley is still considered toxic, with a dwindling population |
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What You'll Learn
Hexavalent chromium's use as a rust inhibitor
Hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6, Cr(VI), or chromium (VI), is a highly toxic and carcinogenic substance. It is the oxidized form of chromium and can form various chemical compounds that exist in different phases, including liquids and gases. It is soluble in alkaline (high pH) water and oxic (contains dissolved oxygen) water. While chromium as a solid metal is hard, lustrous, steel-gray, durable, and highly resistant to corrosion, hexavalent chromium is toxic and has been linked to various health issues, including cancer.
Despite its toxicity, hexavalent chromium has been widely used as a rust inhibitor, particularly in cooling towers for natural gas compressor stations. From 1952 to 1966 (some sources say 1964), Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) used hexavalent chromium as a rust inhibitor in the cooling towers of its compressor station in Hinkley, California. The water used to cool the natural gas after compression contained hexavalent chromium to prevent rust in the machinery. This water was then stored in unlined ponds, allowing it to percolate into the groundwater, resulting in hexavalent chromium pollution.
The use of hexavalent chromium as a rust inhibitor in Hinkley led to significant groundwater pollution, affecting the soil and contaminating water wells near the compressor station. By 2013, the plume of contaminated water had grown to six miles long and nearly two miles wide, with hexavalent chromium levels in Hinkley recorded as high as 20 parts per billion. This pollution had serious health consequences for the residents of Hinkley, leading to a class-action lawsuit that was settled in 1996 for $333 million (around $634 million in 2023).
Due to its toxicity and carcinogenic properties, there have been extensive efforts to phase out hexavalent chromium and develop environmentally friendly alternative technologies for corrosion inhibition. These alternatives include corrosion inhibitors in coating systems on magnesium surfaces and essential oil-based inhibitors for aluminum alloys. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and organizations like the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board are also actively involved in addressing and remediating hexavalent chromium pollution.
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PG&E's dumping of toxic wastewater
From 1952 to 1966, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) dumped approximately 370 million US gallons (1.4x10^9 litres) of hexavalent chromium-tainted wastewater into unlined ponds around the town of Hinkley, California. The Hinkley compressor station is located in the Mojave Desert, about 120 miles (190 kilometres) north-northeast of Los Angeles.
PG&E used hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6, in its compressor station for natural-gas transmission pipelines. Hexavalent chromium is a cheap and efficient rust inhibitor. The water was stored in unlined ponds, allowing it to seep into the groundwater. This resulted in groundwater pollution, contaminating soil and water wells near the compressor station. The plume of contaminated water grew over time, reaching a length of six miles (9.7 kilometres) and a width of two miles (3.2 kilometres) by 2013.
The toxic effects of hexavalent chromium were recognised during this period, with studies confirming its carcinogenic properties. In 1993, legal clerk Erin Brockovich initiated an investigation into the health impacts of the contamination, leading to a class-action lawsuit. PG&E settled the last of the Hinkley claims in 2008, agreeing to pay a total of $333 million (approximately $634 million in 2023).
In 2006, PG&E agreed to pay an additional $295 million to settle cases involving 1,100 people statewide for hexavalent chromium-related claims. The company also began offering to purchase properties in Hinkley and provide bottled water in 2010. The cleanup process has been ongoing, with PG&E spending over $750 million on remediation efforts as of 2013.
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The contamination of groundwater
Hexavalent chromium is a toxic and carcinogenic form of chromium that is commonly used in industrial processes. During the mid-20th century, it was a common practice to add hexavalent chromium to the cooling water in compressor stations to prevent corrosion. However, the disposal of this wastewater in unlined ponds allowed the toxic chemical to percolate into the groundwater, resulting in widespread contamination.
The contamination affected the soil and water wells near the compressor station, creating a plume of contaminated water that continued to spread over time. By 2013, the plume had reached a length of six miles and a width of nearly two miles. The average hexavalent chromium levels in Hinkley were recorded at 1.19 parts per billion (ppb), with an estimated peak of 20 ppb.
The health impacts of the contamination were significant. Erin Brockovich, a legal clerk, initiated an investigation in 1993 into the health issues faced by Hinkley residents. Her research found that exposure to hexavalent chromium had caused cancer and other serious ailments in the community. This led to a class-action lawsuit against PG&E, resulting in a landmark settlement of $333 million in 1996.
The contamination has had lasting effects on the town of Hinkley. Despite ongoing cleanup efforts, the town continues to struggle with the presence of hexavalent chromium. PG&E has purchased and bulldozed many homes in contaminated areas, leading to a significant decline in the town's population. The remaining residents face the constant threat of further deception or mismanagement in the remediation process, and the town's water supply remains a concern.
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PG&E's cleanup efforts
Between 1952 and 1966, PG&E used hexavalent chromium to fight corrosion in cooling tower water at its natural gas compressor station in Hinkley, California. The wastewater from the cooling towers was discharged into unlined ponds at the site, allowing it to percolate into the groundwater and resulting in hexavalent chromium pollution. This pollution has affected an area of groundwater at least eight miles long and two miles wide.
PG&E has been working on cleaning up the contamination since the 1990s. By 2013, the company had spent over $750 million on remediation efforts, including the construction of a concrete barrier to contain the plume, pumping ethanol into the ground to convert chromium 6 to chromium 3, and planting acres of alfalfa. PG&E has also offered to purchase threatened houses and property in Hinkley and provide bottled water to residents. The cleanup has removed 89% of the contaminant, but it has been criticized for its slow progress.
In 2015, the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board served PG&E with an amended cleanup and abatement order, requiring the company to clean up and abate waste discharges of total and hexavalent chromium in the groundwater of the Mojave Hydrologic Unit in San Bernardino County. The order included revised hydraulic plume capture metrics to stop the expansion of the plume. PG&E's monthly monitoring reports demonstrate that the chromium plume is currently being contained south of Thompson Road.
Dr. John Izbicki of the USGS has been leading scientific studies to determine the range of natural and anthropogenic (human-caused) chromium in the Hinkley Valley. The studies are funded by the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board with financial and logistical support from PG&E. The results of these studies will help guide PG&E's ongoing cleanup efforts and ensure the protection of public health and the environment.
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The health impacts on Hinkley residents
From 1952 to 1966, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) dumped around 370 million US gallons of chromium-tainted wastewater into unlined wastewater spreading ponds around Hinkley, California. The water contained hexavalent chromium, a toxic form of chromium that is now recognised as a carcinogen. As a result of this pollution, the residents of Hinkley suffered significant health impacts.
Hexavalent chromium compounds are genotoxic carcinogens, meaning they can cause cancer in humans. In 2010, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responded to research by the National Toxicology Program, which found that the consumption of heavy doses of chromium 6 led to the development of cancerous tumors in mice and rats. This research confirmed the health impacts of hexavalent chromium contamination on the residents of Hinkley.
In addition to the increased risk of cancer, exposure to hexavalent chromium can also cause other serious health issues. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hexavalent chromium is a toxic chemical that can be harmful to human health in several ways. It can cause skin and eye irritation, respiratory problems, and damage to the kidneys and liver. Long-term exposure to high levels of hexavalent chromium has also been linked to developmental and reproductive issues.
The residents of Hinkley were exposed to hexavalent chromium through contaminated groundwater and soil. This exposure led to a range of health problems, including cancer, respiratory issues, and other unknown long-term effects. The exact number of people affected by the pollution is unknown, but it is likely that many residents of Hinkley suffered from the health impacts of hexavalent chromium contamination.
In response to the contamination, the residents of Hinkley filed a class-action lawsuit against PG&E in 1996, which was settled for $333 million (around $634 million in 2023). PG&E was required to discontinue its use of chromium 6 and clean up the contaminated groundwater. However, by 2008, the chromium plume was still spreading, and it attracted media attention by 2011. In 2013, the plume was over six miles long and two miles wide, indicating that the health impacts on the residents of Hinkley could have been ongoing and long-lasting.
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Frequently asked questions
Hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6 or Cr(VI), is a toxic form of chromium commonly found in industrial processes such as electroplating, welding, and pigment production. It is the oxidized form of chromium and can form various chemical compounds that exist in different phases, including liquids and gases.
From 1952 to 1966, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) used hexavalent chromium as a rust inhibitor in the cooling towers of its natural gas compressor station in Hinkley. The wastewater containing hexavalent chromium was discharged into unlined ponds, allowing it to percolate into the groundwater and contaminate water wells near the compressor station.
The contamination of groundwater in Hinkley led to serious health issues for residents, including cancer and other ailments linked to hexavalent chromium exposure. A class-action lawsuit was filed against PG&E, resulting in a landmark settlement of $333 million in 1996. PG&E has been working on remediation efforts, but the town continues to struggle with the environmental and health impacts of the pollution.
