Roughly 99% of Benton Harbor, Michigan’s water service lines have been inspected and replaced, replacing lead or galvanized pipes when needed, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) announced.
The almost completed replacement occurred after a 2018 report found that the city’s water system exceeded Environmental Protection Agency standards for lead contamination, leaving residents unable to use the city’s water in any capacity, ABC News reported. In October of last year, Whitmer announced a $30 million project to replace all of the city’s lead pipes over the course of 18 months. However, the project appears to have gone well ahead of schedule, nearly totally accomplishing its goal just 12 months later, ABC 7 News reported.
THREE NEW PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS OPEN IN MICHIGAN
The federal government stepped in to assist in the effort.
“EPA was pleased to support the successful effort to replace lead service lines throughout Benton Harbor,” EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore said.
“Every American has the right to drink water that is free from lead and other contaminants. … The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $15 billion to communities to replace those lead pipes so American families will no longer have to fear the harmful health effects caused by lead and other pollutants in their water,” she added.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
As part of the effort, inspectors examined nearly 4,500 water service lines and made replacements as needed. There are 40 left to be inspected, authorities said.
In the case of the Flint, Michigan, water crisis, lead contaminated the city’s water supply in 2014, making it unusable in any capacity. Seven former officials tied to the crisis had felony charges against them dropped earlier this month.
