BANCO

For the past three years, city drinking water tests in Benton Harbor (MI) have shown high levels of lead. Benton Harbor sits on the shores of Lake Michigan, but we have had unsafe drinking water for at least three years! Our community of about 10,000 residents is 85% Black, and 45% live below the federal poverty level.

On September 9, 2021, 20 organizations* formally asked the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to declare a drinking water emergency in Benton Harbor. Thanks to our work, Governor Whitmer issued an executive directive on October 14 calling for a full response to our community's lead in drinking water crisis, but there are a lot of details to work out. The Benton Harbor Community Water Council will keep leading the fight to get the lead out of our water, and your donations - in any amount - will help ensure we can assist our neighbors with their needs.

*Benton Harbor Community Water Council, GreatLakes Environmental Law Center, Natural Resources Defense Council, Flint Rising, People’s Water Board Coalition, Michigan Welfare Rights Coalition, Water You Fighting For, Safe Water Engineering, LLC, Highland Park Human Rights Coalition, Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Clean Water Action, Ecology Center, Freshwater Future, East Michigan Environmental Action Council, Detroit People’s Platform, Campaign for Lead Free Water, For Love of Water, and Environmental Transformation Movement of Flint.

Benton Harbor Community Water Council Official Website: https://bhcwc2.org/