BENTON HARBOR, MI – Excavation of lead pipes in Benton Harbor will begin next week as residents are relying on bottled water amid a water crisis.
One hundred service lines will be dug up initially in a plan to replace all the city’s lead pipes, state officials announced Friday.
Benton Harbor residents switched to bottled water on Oct. 6 after Michigan health officials reported elevated levels of lead in the tap water.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer set a goal to replace all the lead service lines within 18 months. About $18.6 million has been allocated to the estimated $30 million effort.
Related: There’s a water crisis in Benton Harbor. Is this Gretchen Whitmer’s Flint?
“The replacement of lead service lines and connections is imperative,” said a statement from Liesl Clark, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy director. “EGLE very much appreciates the city’s leadership on the removal of all service lines, and we are committed to providing technical and financial support as we partner with the city to meet the 18-month goal established by Governor Whitmer.”
Benton Harbor has between 3,000 and 6,000 lead service lines. It was previously expected to take five years to dig up all the lead pipes.
Residents have been raising the alarm about the drinking water since testing in 2018 first showed elevated lead levels.
The initial excavation is funded by a $5.6 million grant awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last fall. Another $10 million from the 2022 state budget and $3 million in state revolving funds will support the effort.
Whitmer also asked the Michigan Legislature to allocate $11.4 million for the project.
Related: ‘This is ridiculous.’ Frustrations mount at Benton Harbor lead crisis
Benton Harbor residents are encouraged to complete a water service line agreement to allow contractors to work on private property. Completed forms can be returned to Abonmarche, 95 W Main St., or emailed to bvasher@abonmarche.com.
Exact dates for the excavation work have not been determined. An online dashboard maintained by the city shows the status of the lead service line replacement.
Free bottled water is continuing to be distributed to residents for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth, rinsing food and mixing baby formula. The upcoming schedule is:
- Saturday, Nov. 6: Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor, 600 Nate Wells Sr. Drive, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Harbor of Hope Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 769 Pipestone St., 4 – 6 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 7: Abundant Life Church of God, 693 Columbus Ave., 3 – 5 p.m., Brotherhood of All Nations, 1286 Monroe Street, 4 – 6 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 8: Southwest Community Action Agency, 331 Miller St., 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Self-service), Abundant Life Church of God, 693 Columbus Ave., noon – 2 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 9: Southwest Community Action Agency, 331 Miller St, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Self-service), Abundant Life Church of God, 693 Columbus Avenue, noon - 2 p.m., Ebenezer Baptist Church, 214 E. Britain Ave., 4 - 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 10: Southwest Community Action Agency, 331 Miller St., 3 - 6 p.m.
More on MLive:
‘We get looked over a lot.’ Benton Harbor water crisis echoes the past
Whitmer administration puts Benton Harbor water records trove online
Broken machines, lost records: EPA finds Benton Harbor water plant in disarray
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November 06, 2021 at 09:28PM
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Work to replace lead pipes in Benton Harbor to start next week - MLive.com
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