HINKLEY, Calif., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- A plume of poisoned drinking water in California made famous by 10 years ago in "Erin Brockovich" is still spreading, regulators say.
The contamination in Hinkley, Calif., continues despite a long-standing order for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to clean up the mess, The San Francisco Chronicle reported.
High levels of cancer-causing hexavalent chromium have been found in the past year in groundwater more than a half-mile beyond the previous extent of contamination in the San Bernardino County farming community, water quality regulators revealed last week.
The leak at a PG&E facility was first exposed by Erin Brockovich, a paralegal whose court fight for sickened residents against the utility was recounted in the 2000 movie starring Julia Roberts.
PG&E said the chromium levels in the new location never rose above California's safe drinking water standard and have recently been cut to background levels. But farmers and ranchers in the area are still angry.
"The plume is migrating, and this is a violation of the cleanup order," said Carmela Gonzalez, one of many residents demanding action. "It is outrageous that this has been allowed to continue. People are fed up."
