Benton Harbor residents are being urged to take advantage of a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services program offering free home lead testing and abatement services as the effort to replace lead water lines in the city is nearly complete. Department lead services manager Carin Speidel tells us even with water lines replaced, there are more sources of lead contamination in homes.
“Any household is eligible for us to come into the home, to test the home to test the home itself for any potential lead hazards,” Spiedel said. “That would be lead hazards in paint, dust, soil, and we also do drinking water samplings.”
Speidel says lead was banned from residential paint in 1978, meaning that’s a source of lead in older homes. Meanwhile, the work to replace lead water service lines has only affected lines from the street to the home. The state can help beyond that.
“We are able to offer plumbing mitigation, or removal of old plumbing throughout the house and replacement with new plumbing, and that is something that is new and we’re excited to be able to offer to new Benton Harbor residents.”
Speidel says more than 200 Benton Harbor residents have applied for lead testing and abatement. The state is inviting more. There’s no deadline. A resident can apply online and we have a link at our website. Meanwhile, work to replace lead service lines in the city is now 99.2% complete. Residents also can call 866-691-5323 to obtain information, or go to michigan.gov/mileadsafe.
