Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an order under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act to the city of Benton Harbor, Michigan, based on the lead exposures in its water system.
A recent, joint federal-state inspection found multiple violations and deficiencies in the city’s water system. The federal order sets out the steps necessary for the city to bring its water system into compliance to assure proper operations and to protect residents from exposure to lead. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy is also taking a separate action today to address violations of state law as part of its ongoing state enforcement action.
“The people of Benton Harbor have suffered for too long,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Exposure to lead in children can cause irreversible and life-long health effects, including decreasing IQ, focus, and academic achievement. The water infrastructure in Benton Harbor, like many cities across the country, needs upgrades and investments to build resiliency and protect people from lead.”
The Safe Drinking Water Act provides EPA with broad authority to protect public health. EPA’s order requires the city to take several actions to protect residents in Benton Harbor, including:
- Informing consumers when lead action level exceedances are detected in drinking water.
- Improving the applications of chlorine for disinfection and orthophosphate for corrosion control.
- Implementing stricter requirements for better monitoring of residual disinfectants and its by-products.
- Making filter repairs at the treatment plant.
- Using an independent third-party to conduct an analysis of alternatives for the long-term operation and maintenance of the system.
EPA has been working closely with the state and providing oversight and support of their efforts to address the immediate and pressing needs of the community—including providing bottled water.
In addition, EPA recently awarded $5.6 million to Benton Harbor under a Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act grant for lead service line replacement, along with a corrosion control study. EPA is working with Michigan’s state agencies, the City of Benton Harbor, and the drinking water system on medium- and long-term solutions, which are essential to ensuring the health and well-being of residents in the community.
Through its oversight role, EPA is also offering the city the services of a compliance advisor to provide direct, one-on-one technical assistance to the system operator. EPA often makes compliance advisors available to small, under-resourced drinking water systems nationwide that may lack sufficient expertise.
