JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio — Jefferson County officials are calling attention to a potential chrome contamination of the water table in Cross Creek Township.
NEWS9 spoke to neighbors who live in the area and most said they’ve already taken precautions against what they say is a worrisome situation.
That’s because not many people live in the shadow of the abandoned Satralloy plant.
Those who do live near it want to know what’s going on in the water.
"I wouldn’t trust it.
"The old Satralloy site is leaching very large amounts of hexavalent chrome into Cross Creek and hexavalent chrome is a known carcinogen, a highly carcinogenic substance,” said Jefferson County Commissioner Tom Gentile.
Hexavalent chromium, or chrome 6, is the pollutant brought into the public consciousness by Erin Brockovich.
A 2010 Ohio EPA study was updated in 2013 on the Cross Creek water table.
Based on that data, Ohio EPA officials sent a statement: "Satralloy is under a long-term cleanup.
However, local officials and neighbors along County Road 74 want more information.