City of Benton Harbor Water Efforts

The City of Benton Harbor has made significant progress to reduce lead exposure from drinking water including:

One hundred percent of lead service lines have been replaced.
The City of Benton Harbor has met or exceeded lead standards under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and Michigan’s strictest-in-the-nation Lead & Copper Rule for two consecutive years. Residents do not have to use a filter.
Since January 2022, more than 1,500 households have applied for a free lead inspection.
By late October 2023, 75% of single-family homes have received lead-reducing filters.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that filters were effective at reducing lead in drinking water. Learn more from the EPA’s filter fact sheet.

If you have an older home, plumbing and water faucets may contain sources of lead. For this reason, MDHHS recommends that City of Benton Harbor residents take the necessary steps to identify if they have lead or galvanized plumbing or old faucets and fittings that were sold before 2014. If you identify that type of plumbing or those kinds of fixtures, MDHHS recommends using a lead-reducing filter to provide an added level of protection.

Steps to further reduce lead in your drinking water:

Identify lead, if any, in your home’s plumbing.

To learn more about your home's plumbing and what you should do to keep your home lead safe, check out our Lead Plumbing Checklist.

For more information on lead hazards in your home, click here.

If you find lead in your plumbing, use a filter for added protection. Here is how to select a Certified Lead Reducing Filter.

Look for filters that are tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for lead reduction and NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for particulates. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to install the filter and maintain it. For help choosing a filter, use the EPA guidance tool.
Need help installing your filter? Unsure of when your cartridge needs to be replaced?
- View these online resources:
  - PUR Faucet Filter
    - Video: PUR Faucet Filter Installation - YouTube: View this video for step-by-step instructions on how to install the PUR Faucet Filter.
  - How to Use Your PUR Pitcher Filter
  - BRITA Faucet Filter
    - Video: Brita Faucet Filter Installation - YouTube: View this video for step-by-step instructions on how to install the Brita Faucet Filter.
  - How to Use Your BRITA Pitcher Filter Certified to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water
    - Video: How to Replace Your Brita Water Filter - YouTube
Do you have questions about your filter? All City of Benton Harbor residents can call the MDHHS Drinking Water Hotline at 844-934-1315.

If your child is on Medicaid or if you are a pregnant person on Medicaid, click here if you need assistance with getting a filter.

Maintain drinking water.

Below are tips that everyone can use to help maintain your home’s drinking water quality.

You can keep water moving by doing everyday activities, such as:
- Running a load of laundry.
- Washing dishes.
- Taking a shower.
- Flushing toilets.
Clean the aerators on your faucets at least once every six months to remove trapped lead and other particles. Follow this online guide to learn more:
- Cleaning Your Aerators.
- In Spanish: Limpiando sus aireadores.
Before using the water from any faucet for drinking or cooking, run the cold water until it goes from room temperature to cold.

Bottled Water Updates and Recommendations

The City of Benton Harbor continues to meet or exceed lead standards under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and Michigan's strictest-in-the-nation Lead & Copper Rule as it has for two consecutive years.

The distribution of bottled water was an immediate, short-term response to ensure residents have access to safe drinking water while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted its filter study. The EPA tested filters in Benton Harbor and found they were effective at reducing lead. Learn more from the EPA’s fact sheet.

For information about bottled water distribution, click here.

Resources for Lead Prevention in Your Home

Faucet and Filter Safety Net Program

MDHHS offers a Faucet and Filter Safety Net for City of Benton Harbor households with a child under 19 years of age enrolled in Medicaid or a pregnant person enrolled in Medicaid. The Faucet and Filter Safety Net Program provides access to the following benefits:

A home visit with lead education and visual plumbing assessment.
Lead-reducing filter and replacement cartridges.
Replacement of one faucet if older than 2014.
Assistance with signing up for Medicaid Lead Abatement program which will address lead hazards in the home.

Eligible households can sign up for any of these services by completing the Faucet and Filter Safety Net Program application.

Lead Safe Home Program

The Lead Safe Home Program (LSHP) provides lead services to help families identify and fix lead hazards from their home. All residents are encouraged to complete the MDHHS Lead Services Application for lead abatement services before seeking assistance through the Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund Loan Program. The LSHP services include the following benefits:

Home lead inspections that will help find sources of lead in the resident’s home.
Lead abatement services including fixing, removing or replacing lead sources and hazards from the home.

To be eligible for services provided by the LSHP, applicants must have a child under 19 years of age enrolled in Medicaid or a pregnant person enrolled in Medicaid living in the home. Complete the MDHHS Lead Services Application.

For more lead prevention resources that may be available for your household, click here.