The world is not such a magical place when chemicals, including the carcinogen chromium 6, are being dumped into groundwater.

A lawsuit filed in Los Angeles alleges that Disney has been dumping the waste from their on-site cooling systems since 1998. According to the suit, brought by Environmental Worldwatch, Inc and local residents, the company,

supplied, dumped, released and deposited and continues to supply, dump, release and deposit vast amounts of chromium 6, air cooling water and residues, and other various toxic waste materials.

The Disney corporation has so far declined to comment on the specifics of the case but are denying any wrongdoing.

[social_buttons]

Previously, the contaiminated runoff stayed on Disney property. But then, the suit alleges, the flow was changed and now goes through an underground pipeline that flows into the Los Angeles River and curbside drains.

Now the Polliwog, an 11-acre parcel next to the studio’s Imagineering facilities, is contaminated. Tests were conducted and “significant quantities” of chromium 6 were discovered. According to the Burbank Leader,

Tests conducted as recently as May 16 found chromium 6 contamination at elevations of 25 feet from natural surface ground, threatening the underground drinking water supplies, according to the complaint.

The plaintiffs also allege that Disney stayed silent on the possible danger to the public for over 20 years, ignoring a 1986 law (Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, better known as Proposition 65) that requires facilities to report toxins released into the air.

That’s because dirt dust, particulate, and micro-fine hexavalent particles have migrated off of the Polliwog property and can be carried by people and animals, as well as settling on nearby land.

Fairy dust? Not quite the same thing.

Image: bredgur on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.