Nothing is more ironic than Michigan marketing its “Pure Michigan” slogan when its inhabitants of “Pure Michigan” have been worrying about lead in their water. Many have heard of the Flint water crisis back in 2014. However, Flint was not the only city with water contamination. Many of Michigan’s cities were and still are fighting to keep their water quality clean; our very own Benton Harbor is included in the list of cities.
In 2018, high lead levels were found in Benton Harbor’s tap water. Inhabitants were asked to drink from bottled water. Slowly, the lead levels in the water have been going down. However, that does not mean the water is safe to drink. As of their latest update on July 14, 2022, Berrien County announced that “nearly 74% of lead service lines were replaced with new copper lines.” With the progress, they still ask that citizens continue to use bottled water or a lead-reducing water filter until the city’s lines are entirely replaced. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/MiLeadSafe.
So how exactly is water contaminated? According to the website, contamination can occur through natural sources, industry and agriculture, treatment and distribution, and improper private residential well maintenance. In Benton Harbor’s case, it was treatment and distribution. As mentioned before, Benton Harbor was using lead water lines. Not just any sort of lead water lines, however–they were 100 years old. Residents have been asking for these lines to be changed since the issue was discovered in 2018. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) stated on its website that the lead levels for Benton Harbor were 60 times greater than the federal limit. How did it get this bad when residents asked for the lines to be changed? Ultimately, it was due to the government's inadequate response. NRDC goes more into depth about it, stating that despite asking for replacements of the lead pipes, in March 2019, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) approved a corrosion control treatment as a solution to lower lead levels. However, the corrosion control treatment that was designated was not optimal. This resulted in lead levels still increasing with each sample. A letter of concern was sent, yet the EGLE essentially dismissed their concerns and responded that officials were working on it, along with a study showing how their corrosion treatment was effective. That winter, the lead levels continued to increase. NRDC also factors in race and low income: 90% of Benton Harbor’s residents are people of color, and 45% have an income below the federal poverty level. Race and income should never be a factor when it comes to necessities such as clean water.
Contaminated water is toxic to everyone. Lead is highly toxic even at low exposure. The EPA states that lead can accumulate over time. Children especially are susceptible to lead poisoning, and this poisoning may often result in physical and psychological development issues. Pregnant women are also vulnerable as lead can infiltrate the placenta, risking the mother and the fetus. Adults can also develop serious health issues such as cardiovascular issues, decreased kidney function, and reproductive problems.
While officials are still replacing the lead water lines with copper lines, the State of Michigan has provided the residents with free water filters, home lead inspection, and bottled water. They also ask that the residents flush the plumbing in the home and clean the aerators. Residents should have water running if they haven't used their water for several hours. Flushing their pipes means taking a shower, doing laundry, or just running the kitchen faucet would help reduce lead in drinking water. Cleaning the faucet aerator is recommended every six months. However, boiling water will not sanitize the water. Lead dissolves easier in hot water. Instead of boiling the water, it is recommended to wait for the cold water when using tap water. The best way to prevent lead poisoning is to keep yourself updated with your county’s lead levels and stick to the recommended methods by your local officials.
While we commend government officials in their efforts to replace the water lines, the government should have never allowed the lead levels to get this high. Their lack of timely action has affected thousands of vulnerable residents. In the future, we hope to see officials listen to concerns and take more premature steps in providing clean water in all cities, regardless of their race and income.
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.