Water samples taken from eight homes in the city of Benton Harbor have come back with levels of lead higher than the federal action level of 15 parts per billion.
The city says they’re trying to figure out the source at this time.
“We’re working with the Department of Environmental Quality to conduct a full assessment of the water system, which includes additional water quality testing, source water monitoring and investigation into corrosion control treatment methods,” said Benton Harbor City Manager Darwin Watson.
Watson says the eight homes were among 30 random water samples done this year, something that’s done every three years as mandated by law. He adds they’re now opening those tests up to more homes and businesses.
“We’re offering water testing to any city water customer that would like it at no charge to them,” Watson said.
You can do that by going to 200 Paw Paw in Benton Harbor starting Thursday and getting a water testing kit to fill up and return. The Berrien County Health Department says they continually screen for blood lead levels in children, and that has been trending lower every year including 2018.
“From our data, at this time, we have not seen any increase at all in elevated blood levels for children in Benton Harbor, nor have we seen it in the county at large,” said Berrien County Medical Director Dr. Rick Johansen.
Watson says there is no pattern to where the elevated levels are, but they are not releasing information on the addresses or even the neighborhoods where those are located. More information on lead is on the city’s website at bhcity.us.
