Escutia Seeks $15 Million for Study of Tainted Wells

State Sen. Martha M. Escutia (D-Whittier) on Monday called on state officials to spend $15 million to investigate the source of chromium 6 contamination in southeast Los Angeles County drinking water wells.

Escutia’s action came after the state found high chromium 6 concentrations in wells in South Gate, Cudahy and Bell Gardens.

One well, run by Southern California Water Co. in Bell Gardens, had chromium 6 concentrations exceeding 400 parts per billion--more than 2,400 times the optimum safety level suggested by the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. An Escutia aide said the well had been closed.

David Spath, state Department of Health Services drinking water chief, said he could not recall readings that high for chromium or chromium 6 at any other public water well in California.

“It’s higher than any chromium 6 levels we’ve ever seen in a public water system well,” Spath said. “It’s certainly higher than the total chromium levels we’ve seen. By a long shot.”

Currently, no standards exist for chromium 6. Instead, the state limits total chromium to 50 ppb as a means of cutting levels of chromium 6, which is a chemical byproduct of the metal.

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has called for a goal of 2.5 ppb for total chromium, which officials say would reduce chromium 6 concentrations to 0.2 ppb.

An Escutia aide said residents should not be alarmed, because the water delivered to homes is typically diluted with other supplies, so that chromium 6 concentrations are probably not as high.

Nonetheless, she said it was serious enough to warrant immediate state action to identify the source and extent of the pollution.

In a statement, Escutia said the request for $15 million was based on an estimate by a local water official on the cost to investigate contamination in the area.