cover of episode 'Erin Brockovich' made their town famous. They still don’t have clean water.

'Erin Brockovich' made their town famous. They still don’t have clean water.

2024/12/27
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Sylvia Foster-Frau
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旁白：本节目回顾了电影《Erin Brockovich》中Hinkley镇水污染事件，以及该事件对当地居民生活的影响。电影展现了居民在Erin Brockovich的帮助下赢得法律诉讼，获得巨额赔偿的场景，但现实情况远比电影复杂。 电影中，Hinkley镇居民因PG&E公司将含有六价铬的废水排放到未衬里的池塘中，导致地下水污染而遭受健康问题。Erin Brockovich帮助居民收集证据，并对PG&E公司提起诉讼，最终获得巨额赔偿。 然而，现实中，Hinkley镇的水污染问题在电影上映25年后依然存在，当地居民的健康问题依然没有得到彻底解决，许多居民被迫搬离家园，Hinkley镇也因此成为一座鬼镇。 本节目采访了现实生活中的Erin Brockovich以及Hinkley镇居民Roberta Walker，探讨了电影结局与现实情况之间的差距，以及当地政府监管的不足。 Erin Brockovich：电影《Erin Brockovich》的成功并非全部事实，这场战斗仍在继续。Hinkley镇的水污染问题在电影上映多年后依然存在，这让我感到苦涩。真正的正义并非金钱赔偿，而是真相大白，以及防止此类事件再次发生。金钱无法弥补居民遭受的健康损害和精神创伤。 Martine Powers：本节目探讨了电影《Erin Brockovich》中Hinkley镇水污染事件的现实情况，以及该事件对当地居民生活的影响。电影中展现的成功结局与现实情况存在巨大差异，这引发了人们对环境污染治理以及政府监管的思考。 Sylvia Foster-Frau：我的调查显示，Hinkley镇的水污染问题依然严重，六价铬含量远高于安全标准。PG&E公司虽然承认了其在Hinkley镇倾倒六价铬的事实，但没有承认其行为与居民的健康问题之间存在直接因果关系。当地水务部门在监管PG&E公司方面存在不足，PG&E公司利用拖延战术来减少清理成本。此外，地下水污染很难彻底清除，清理工作可能需要持续几十年。 Roberta Walker：PG&E公司最初以高价收购居民房产，并提供免费体检和瓶装水，试图掩盖水污染问题。我的家人遭受了严重的健康问题，包括癌症等。虽然获得了赔偿，但这并不能弥补我们遭受的损失和痛苦。现在，我已不再参与有关水污染问题的抗议活动，只想专注于我的家庭。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why is Hinkley, California, still dealing with contaminated water decades after the Erin Brockovich case?

The cleanup of chromium-6 in Hinkley has been slow due to the widespread contamination and the local water board's lack of power to enforce stricter standards. PG&E, the utility company responsible, has acknowledged the issue but estimates the cleanup will take several more decades.

What health issues have residents of Hinkley experienced due to chromium-6 contamination?

Residents have suffered from kidney, stomach, and liver damage, increased cancer risks, autoimmune diseases, fibromyalgia, and hysterectomies. Many families, like Roberta Walker's, have multiple members with severe health problems linked to chromium-6 exposure.

How did PG&E respond to the contamination crisis in Hinkley?

PG&E offered free bottled water, bought contaminated properties at high prices, and provided free medical checkups. However, they did not clearly communicate the extent of the contamination or its health risks to residents.

What was the outcome of the legal battle between Hinkley residents and PG&E?

In 1996, PG&E settled for $333 million with 650 Hinkley residents. The settlement aimed to compensate for medical costs and other damages, but many residents felt the money did not adequately address their ongoing health and financial struggles.

How has the Erin Brockovich movie impacted the perception of Hinkley's story?

The movie brought national attention to Hinkley and was seen as a triumph of environmental justice. However, residents feel frustrated that the settlement and movie overshadowed the ongoing contamination and health issues they still face.

What is the current state of Hinkley, California?

Hinkley is now a ghost town, with most residents having moved away due to health concerns or property buyouts by PG&E. The town's infrastructure, including schools and stores, has been abandoned, and the area remains contaminated with chromium-6.

What role did the local water board play in the Hinkley contamination crisis?

The local water board was criticized for being understaffed and outmaneuvered by PG&E's legal and PR teams. Residents and advocates argue that stronger regulation and enforcement could have mitigated the contamination earlier.

What is PG&E's current plan for addressing the chromium-6 contamination in Hinkley?

PG&E is converting chromium-6 into chromium-3, a less harmful substance, across the Hinkley area. However, they acknowledge that complete removal of the contaminant is not feasible, and the cleanup will take decades.

Shownotes Transcript

In 2000, the movie “Erin Brockovich” helped put the small town of Hinkley, California, on the map. The movie stars Julia Roberts as a determined law clerk who takes on the massive utility company Pacific Gas & Electric, which had been dumping chromium-6, the dangerous chemical, in Hinkley's groundwater. 

Brockovich is depicted gathering evidence and building a legal case against the utility. And she prevails: The movie concludes with a landmark settlement awarded to residents. 

But that Hollywood ending isn’t the whole story. Many residents say the settlement didn’t go far to cover mounting medical bills and moving costs. And the chromium-6 cleanup proved to be slow. It was stymied by the difficulty of containing widespread contamination and a small local water board lacking the power to enforce stricter standards. Today, Hinkley is a ghost town, and the water there is still contaminated with chromium-6.

On the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act, investigative reporter Silvia Foster-Frau has traveled the country reporting on where America has fallen short in its promise of providing clean drinking water. In the final installment in this series, she returns to Hinkley to learn why, even with a massive spotlight, it can be so hard to clean up toxic tap water.

Today’s show was produced by Emma Talkoff. It was edited by Monica Campbell and mixed by Sam Bair.



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