Work to replace all lead water service lines in the city of Benton Harbor is about 20% complete. Michigan EGLE spokesperson Hugh McDiarmid tells WSJM News about 920 lines have now been replaced with about 3,500 to go.
“Looking back at the last month or so, it’s looking like they’re at apace of somewhere in between 10 and 13 replacements per day,” McDiarmid said. “Tuesday, they replaced 22, which is a new one day record, so they’re really moving that average up.”
McDiarmid says everyone needs to submit a right of access form so crews can do the replacement work.
“Last report, I heard they had about 1,900 right of access forms, and those are the forms that property owners are required to fill out to allow access to their property to replace the lead line.”
Five of six contractors hired to do the replacements are now in town, and the sixth should start work this month. McDiarmid says he’s optimistic the entire project can be finished by next spring, the goal set by the governor.
