# data[].attributes.body
- Town in San Bernardino County, California
- Previously, a small farming community before water contamination crisis
- It is now considered a ghost town as many residents have fled
-School has also shut down

# data[].attributes.body
- A small town located in Ontario that belongs to the municipality of Brockton
- A population of 4,517 (2016)

# data[].attributes.body
- The use of hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6 by PG&E as a corrosion inhibitor in its cooling system was the main cause of contamination in Hinkley, CA.
- This contaminated water leaked to the aquifer that was being used by Hinkley's residents.
- This occurred from 1952-1972 which is when PG&E began lining their contaminated pools.

# data[].attributes.body
- The main source of contamination was manure that had been spread on a farm near Well 5
- E.coli was the main contaminant in the water and it spread to the Walkerton residents homes were they used it for drinking and bathing
- Well 5 contained no chlorinator which could have prevented the contamination

# data[].attributes.body
- Many health problems were linked to chromium-6 such as prostate, cervical, breast, and stomach cancers and respiratory problems.
- Chromium-6 also alters human DNA, which means that this can affect future generations.
- Due to PG&E's unsuccessful efforts in cleaning the contaminated aquifer, they began buying and then destroying residents homes in 2012
- This has eventually led to Hinkley becoming a ghost town

# data[].attributes.body
- Erin Brockovich, a clerk at Masry and Vivitoe law firm began investigating the pollution as she noticed medical records were tied along with real estate documents.
- She began investigating and convinced the plaintiffs to take legal action.
- She managed to get 648 plaintiffs signatures which she memorized as seen in the movie, Erin Brockovich.
- PG&E did not want to settle this case in the court but opted for an arbitration route instead.
- PG&E had second thoughts about arbitration and decided to settle the entire case for $333 million in 1996.
- The largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit in American history.

# data[].attributes.headline
On-going Action of Responsible Parties Throughout Contamination

# data[].attributes.subject
On-going Action of Responsible Parties Throughout Contamination

# data[].attributes.body
- Who was the responsible party? PG&E
- In 1987, they began purchasing peoples homes
- At the same time, company officials reassured citizens that the water was acceptable for drinking and agriculture uses.
- PG&E continued to deny all accusations that linked the leak of hexavalent chromium to health problems.

# data[].attributes.body
- The E.coli contaminated water led to 2300 residents being sick along with the deaths of 7 people.
- Positive effect: Walkerton now has one on the cleanest drinking water supplies in the world.

# data[].attributes.body
- A public inquiry was launched in an effort to figure out why the contamination occurred.
- The Ontario government decides to offer Walkerton residents a deal in the form of a class-action lawsuit.
- Every resident would receive 2000 dollars, but those who were seriously ill or had family members pass away would receive more.
- Stan and Frank Koebel were both charged with public endangerment, fraud, and breach of trust but after a guilty plea these charges were dropped
- Instead, they faced common nuisance charges as Stan was sentenced to a year in prison and his brother , Frank, faced 9 months of house arrest.

# data[].attributes.headline
Which Area suffered more severe contamination? 

# data[].attributes.subject
Which Area suffered more severe contamination? 

# data[].attributes.body
- It is without a doubt that the town of Hinkley suffered more severe contamination as 18 years later, the consequences are still felt.
- The town is still polluted and has become a ghost town.
- Hexavalent chromium has been known to alter DNA which can affect future generations.
- Unlike Walkerton were most people were only sick, residents of Hinkley suffered severe diseases such as many forms of cancer, inability to conceive, and miscarriages.

# data[].attributes.headline
Which area was more adequately resolved?

# data[].attributes.subject
Which area was more adequately resolved?

# data[].attributes.body
- Walkerton’s water contamination was more adequately resolved as Justice Dennis O’Connor  gave many recommendations that will help perfect the drinking water in Ontario.
- Unlike Hinkley, the case of Walkerton actually brought upon real change to water legislation and not just monetary compensation to the victims.
- Three new Acts were introduced to Ontario legilsation post Walkerton Tragedy.  the Safe Drinking Water Act,2002, Nutrient Management Act, 2002, and Clean Water Act, 2006.
- Walkerton has one of the safest drinking water in Canada, if not the world.
- Meanwhile PG&E is still struggling to clean out the water as in 2017 they stated that they have only removed half of the hexavalent chromium.
- Finally, Walkerton has restored normal stability in its community whilst Hinkley is now a ghost town that is inhabitable.

# data[].attributes.headline
On-going Action of Responsible Parties Throughout Contamination

# data[].attributes.subject
On-going Action of Responsible Parties Throughout Contamination

# data[].attributes.body
- Who was responsible?
The PUC, Frank and Stan Koebel.
- Walkerton's PUC, Public Utilities Commission, did not notify public health officials that water sample from May 15 was contaminated.
- PUC reassures health officials multiple times that the water is safe, meanwhile many people are falling sick.