Getting the lead out: Benton Harbor mayor happy as work begins to replace aging city water pipes

The Final Call
Stacy M. Brown

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The first small steps toward progress arrived in Benton Harbor, Mich., as replacements of lead contaminated water lines is now underway. Much to the relief of frustrated and concerned residents of the small majority Black city and its dedicated mayor Marcus Muhammad, there is now movement in the goal of replacing all impacted pipes within the next 18 months.

It’s an aggressive timeline, but Mayor Muhammad is determined to work with and keep pressure on city, state and federal officials and partner with agencies, to ensure his hometown has clean and safe drinking water. The mayor, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, and Congressman Fred Upton, a Republican whose 6th District includes Benton Harbor, were on site Nov. 8 and Nov. 9 as the first pipes were replaced by a local Black-owned construction company tasked with working on the first 100 homes and filling 300 potholes around the city.