Michigan Gov. Whitmer visits Benton Harbor amid water crisis in predominately Black community

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer visited Benton Harbor amid a crisis of toxic lead poisoning the city's drinking water in the predominately Black community.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer visited Benton Harbor as a crisis of toxic lead poisoning the city's drinking water has stoked mounting frustration and fury.

The governor issued a new call for the state legislature to provide an additional $11.4 million investment to help expedite the replacement of lead pipes and service lines in the predominately Black community within the next 18 months.

The estimated cost to replace all of the lead service lines in Benton Harbor is $30 million, and the state has so far earmarked some $18.6 million, according to a statement from the governor's office. Whitmer called on the legislature to secure the additional $11.4 million by tapping into federal money made available to Michigan through the pandemic-era American Rescue Plan.

Her visit to the western Michigan community to meet with residents and local leaders on Tuesday came days after she signed an executive directive that aimed to coordinate all available state resources to deliver safe drinking water to residents.