BENTON HARBOR, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The state of Michigan is taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to fixing the water crisis in Benton Harbor as it’s residents will be drinking bottled water and not from the tap for the next 18 months.
The state of Michigan is aiming to replace every lead water pipe in the city during this time after high levels of lead contamination were found in the water. Officials say that a process such as this would normally take up to 14 years for similar sized city and that funding will come from the state budget recently signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
During a Thursday, October 14 press conference, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist said that until the city’s water is safe, the state will send 20 semi-truckloads carrying 35,000 cases of bottled water to the city each Monday with direct delivery going to area schools and senior living communities. Gilchrist went onto say that officials are also working to reach out to affected homeowners with free or low-cost bottled water and other resources.
More than 33,000 cases of water have been distributed so far.
State health officials are urging Benton Harbor residents to not cook with, or drink their tap water.
Data from the city showed the highest lead reading from sampled homes found 889 parts per billion, more than 59 times the state limit.
