Benton Harbor

The state says residents can still face lead exposure due to lead pipes inside their homes. Residents are still being told not to drink the city's water.

Today we discussed an investigation into the recent spike in juvenile shootings in Detroit. We also heard about Benton Harbor's success replacing lead water pipes. Plus, a conversation with an Oxford High School parent who's running for office.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy said the 90th percentile value of lead in the city's drinking water was 14 parts per billion, just within the federal action level.

A group of activists, experts, and a local water council demand that regulators be more transparent about whether Benton Harbor’s water plant is meeting drinking water rules.

Since elevated levels of lead were discovered in Benton Harbor’s tap water, the city has inspected or replaced roughly one in five water service lines. The goal is to complete the work by Spring 2023.

For the past five months, state health officials have been telling Benton Harbor residents not to drink their tap water. But now the safety message for Benton Harbor seems to be shifting. And it’s left some residents confused about how best to keep their families safe.

Benton Harbor residents have no clear answers on whether their tap water is safe to drink. Stateside gets an update from Michigan Radio's newsroom.

For five months, state health officials have told Benton Harbor residents not to drink their tap water. But now that safety message is shifting.

The U.S. EPA says its study on Benton Harbor's tap water shows filters do work to remove lead. But the agency says residents should still only drink bottled water. It’s a mixed message, but lead isn’t the only lingering water quality concern.

Benton Harbor has the longest-running lead-in-water exceedance in Michigan history, surpassing Flint by more than a year. The state paid a portion of Flint water bills for nearly three years. Benton Harbor residents are hoping for similar relief.