Next Bottled Water Pickup Schedule for Town of Benton Harbor Residents

Benton Harbor High School organizes water distribution for bottled water and recycling of empty water bottles six days a week to ensure residents of the City of Benton Harbor have access to bottled water for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth, rinsing food and mixing powdered infant formula.

Free bottled water continues to be provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and distributed by local paid residents of the City of Benton Harbor. This action is part of an accelerated and widespread effort to reduce the risk of exposure to lead in drinking water as the city replaces all lead service lines.

To arrange for water delivery to residents at home or without transportation in the City of Benton Harbour, contact 211, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Phones that cannot reach 211 should contact 211. 844-875-9211.

Community volunteers from the following organizations are available to help City of Benton Harbor residents fetch water from Benton Harbor High School, 870 Colfax Avenue as follows:

Monday January 17
12pm – 2pm – COGIC Abundant Life Volunteers
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – New Covenant Community Baptist Church Volunteers

Tuesday, January 18
12pm – 2pm – COGIC Abundant Life Volunteers
4 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Volunteers from the Ebenezer Baptist Church

Wednesday January 19
12:00 – 2:00 – Purpose Church Ministries Volunteers
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Purpose Church Ministries Volunteers

Thursday January 20
12 p.m. – 2 p.m. – Volunteers from the Ebenezer Baptist Church
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Volunteers of the Brotherhood of All Nations

The Southwest Community Action Agency, 331 Miller Street, will host self-service water collection as follows:

Monday, January 17, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Wednesday, January 19, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Thursday, January 20, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Friday, January 21, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Monday, January 24, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

To arrange for water delivery to residents at home or without transportation in the City of Benton Harbour, contact 211, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Phones that cannot reach 211 should contact 211. 844-875-9211.

Additional dates and locations for bottled water pickup will be added to ensure community needs are met. The information will be published on Michigan.gov/MiLeadSafe.

The ongoing response in Benton Harbor includes the city, Berrien County Health Department, local community organizations, MDHHS, and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has called for the replacement of lead service lines in Benton Harbor within 18 months and the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration has provided just under $20 million to Benton Harbor to expedite the replacement schedule for their service conduct. Abonmarche reports that 24 service lines were replaced this fall, bringing the total number of service lines replaced to 400 with approximately 3,900 remaining.

Click here for the most recent service line replacement statistics.

There is no cost to residents of the Town of Benton Harbor for the replacement of the lead service line. To help ensure work can be completed as soon as possible, residents are encouraged to complete the Water Main Replacement Agreement available online. Contractors cannot begin work on a property without the owner’s permission.

Click here for the Water Line Replacement Agreement.

Completed forms can be returned to Abonmarche, 95 West Main Street, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 or emailed to [email protected]

Click here to email the Water Line Replacement Agreement to [email protected]

These efforts also include recently approved funds to remove lead from homes in the city. Funding through the Federal Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides health insurance coverage to low-income children, is available to provide comprehensive services to identify and address all lead-related risks in the houses of Benton Harbour. This includes dust, paint, soil and potable water.

Families living in Benton Harbor can apply for this service by completing and submitting a Lead Safe Home program application available online. Residents can also call 866-691-5323 for information.

Click here to complete a Lead Safe Home program application.

For questions regarding lead, MDHHS can be reached at 866-691-5323 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Click here for the color PDF

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