Tim Willert
CITY HALL -- Chromium 6 levels in Glendale's drinking water supply
could creep even higher if the city bows to Environmental Protection
Agency pressure and starts pumping treated water from one of two high
chromium ground water wells.
The EPA has denied a request by the city to turn off both of its high
chromium wells, which contain chromium levels measured at 50 parts per
billion.
"We did talk to them about shutting down two of the high-chrome wells
and they rejected that idea because it doesn't comply with the cleanup
remedy," Don Froelich, water and services administrator for Glendale
Water and Power, said Friday.
The City Council on Tuesday will consider whether to bring one well on
line, a move that officials said would raise the chromium levels from 3
to 6 parts per billion.
That level is still a fraction of the state and federal levels for
chromium 6, which are 50 and 100 parts per billion, respectively.
Last month, the council decided to relax its standard from 1 to 3
parts per billion at the request of the EPA and the San Fernando Valley
water master. The water master had taken the city to court for dumping
most of its treated water into the L.A. River.
EPA officials, eager to clean up contaminated ground water as quickly
as possible, want the city to honor a federal consent decree agreement by
pumping a maximum of 5,000 gallons of treated water per minute.
John Kemmerer, chief of the EPA Superfund Cleanup branch, could not be
reached for comment Friday.
Should the city refuse to comply with the consent decree, the EPA can
impose a $3.6-million annual fine, Froelich said.
As for the other high chromium well, the city is proposing a plan to
treat the water for pollutants, then use it in the city's recycled water
system. Water in the system is used on parks and medians throughout the
city.
The council on Tuesday will decide whether to appropriate $109,000 for
the treatment process.
IN OTHER ACTION
The Glendale City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council
chambers at 613 E. Broadway. The Glendale Housing Authority will meet at
2:30 p.m. and the Redevelopment Agency will meet at 3:30 p.m. The
meetings will be televised live on Charter Communications Channel 6.
In other action, the council will consider:
* Approving a resolution to destroy certain city records.
