Benton Harbor City Commissioners have approved an ordinance requiring lead water service lines installed around the city to be replaced. The city attorney told commissioners at a Monday meeting the ordinance would require property owners to allow city-hired crews access to do the replacements.
“This basically states that the replacement of lead service lines in the community is mandatory, that the city will be doing that at no cost.”
Property owners could have the work done themselves if they so choose. However, that would be at their cost. Mayor Marcus Muhammad said the ordinance is not about punishing people who try to turn away the crews, but about doing everything the city can to replace those lines that have resulted in residents being told not to drink their water for months.
“What this resolution will do is empower the city to make it mandatory and put some things in place where we do all we can because number one, it is a health hazard.”
Penalties for refusing to let crews do the work could include fines or community service. The city is currently in the process of using tens of millions of state and federal dollars to replace old lead water lines. The goal is to have it all finished next year.
