BENTON HARBOR, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Michigan Governor’s office has provided just under 20 million to speed up the timeline to fix Benton Harbor’s water crises.
Excavation work is set to begin next week on an initial 100 suspected lead service lines. This is part of an accelerated across-the-board effort to reduce the exposure to lead in the city’s drinking water.
Last month, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called for the replacement of lead service lines in Benton Harbor in 18 months and the Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration has provided just under $20 million to Benton Harbor to speed up their service line replacement timeline.
Governor Whitmer also signed an executive directive that implemented an all-hands-on-deck, whole-of-government approach to move forward with urgency and ensure that every parent can give their kid a glass of water with confidence.
Next week, residents can expect to see construction efforts within the city as Meeks Contracting Services begins to replace lines funded by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant.
The state, city and the city’s engineering firm, Abonmarche, are also working quickly to secure additional contractors to conduct service line replacement with the goal of having multiple contractors working throughout the city at the same time.
To arrange water delivery to homebound or residents without transportation in the city of Benton Harbor, contact 211, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The upcoming schedule for bottled water pickup 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 Street, 4 – 6 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 7
- Abundant Life Church of God, 693 Columbus Avenue, 3 – 5 p.m.
- Brotherhood of All Nations, 1286 Monroe Street, 4 – 6 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 8
- Southwest Community Action Agency, 331 Miller Street, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Self-service)
- Abundant Life Church of God, 693 Columbus Avenue, noon – 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 9
- Southwest Community Action Agency, 331 Miller Street, 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 Avenue, 4 – 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 10
- Southwest Community Action Agency, 331 Miller Street, 3 – 6 p.m., (Water loaded into vehicles by volunteers)
The ongoing response in Benton Harbor includes the city, Berrien County Health Department, local community organizations, MDHHS and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
