Benton Harbor is facing a water crisis. People who live there have been told by the city to not use water from the tap because of the high levels of lead from old pipes. The water that comes out of faucets is not safe to use. Because of this, many people in Benton Harbor have been using bottled water in place of tap water.
This problem has been known for years. In 2018, lead was detected in Benton Harbor’s tap water. Since then, the city has failed 6 lead tests. From an article written by Tori B. Powell, a breaking news reporter at CBS News, “Various environmental and public advocacy organizations said in a petition filed last month that (Benton Harbor) hasn't had its lead pipes replaced in years.” A petition seeking help has been started by residents, and the goal for the city is to fix the problem within two years. However, there is a complication in solving the water crisis.
The city does not have enough money to finish lead pipe removals. According to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office, “at least $11.4 million” is needed for lead pipe replacement. The total cost of the project is $30 million and will take 18 months to complete. Funds for this project have come from various sources. The State of Michigan gave Benton Harbor $18.6 million and an additional $10 million from the state's fiscal year budget. The Michigan Clean Water plan gave $3 million. The Environmental Protection Agency gave $5.6 million. With enough money, the water crisis can be resolved. There are a number of things being done to raise money.
Whitmer has called on the state's legislature to fund the money necessary to replace the pipes. The city's commission has voted on a local state of emergency to coordinate resources for the city. Benton Harbor's Mayor Pro Tem Duane Seats argues that the state needs to help this city to recover from the crisis as soon as possible. The consequences of the water crisis on Benton Harbor residents are dire.
The tap water is unsafe for drinking because of its lead content and associated health risks. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the negative health effects of drinking water with lead include “behavioral issues, a lower IQ, hyperactivity, slowed growth, anemia, cardiovascular effects, decreased kidney function and reproductive problems.” All of these health risks have a big effect on Benton Harbor residents, especially children. As previously mentioned, residents must use bottled water instead of tap water for their daily needs. In a CBS news report, when Benton Harbor resident Francis Davis was asked by Omar Villafranca, a CBS News correspondent, about what water she uses for cooking, brushing teeth, and bathing, she replied, “the bottled water.” This proves difficult because bottled water is harder to utilize than simply using water from a faucet for household purposes. Truly, this water crisis is a pressing and serious issue.
Benton Harbor is experiencing difficulty with replacing its lead pipes because of insufficient funding. The water crisis in the city has had severe, negative effects on its residents. In time, the city will replace all of its lead pipes and resolve the issue. However, this may take a considerable number of years and cost millions of dollars to complete. Hopefully, the people of Benton Harbor will once again be able to drink a glass of water without fearing any health consequences.
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Editors Note: If you would like to volunteer to help, check out this website. Harbor of Hope is collaborating with Alyssa Sussdorf and other Andrews University students. Every Saturday from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, they will be helping distribute water for the area.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.