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Benton Harbor: lead service line replacement

A stack of grey metal pipes
Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Benton Harbor: lead service line replacement

Service lines are the underground pipes that deliver water from the water main to a home. They are made of various types of materials, including copper, galvanized iron, plastic, and lead.

Based on preliminary data submitted by water supplies in 2020, approximately 331,000 service lines across the state are known or likely to contain lead (that's roughly 12% of the total service lines in Michigan community water supplies). An additional approximately 314,000 service lines are of unknown material.

Replacement of lead service lines is imperative because lead can leach into drinking water while it sits in or moves through lead service lines (LSLs).