Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer calls for an "all-hands-on-deck" response to Benton Harbor water crisis

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said Thursday that the state will tackle Benton Harbor's ongoing water crisis with an "all-hands-on-deck, whole-of-government approach" in an executive directive aimed at providing joint resources from the state. She vowed to "move forward with urgency" for the city that has experienced elevated levels of lead in its drinking water since 2018.

"Every Michigander deserves safe drinking water, and every community deserves lead-free pipes," Whitmer said in a statement Thursday. "We will not rest until the job is done and every parent feels confident to give their kid a glass of water knowing that it is safe."

Under the directive, bottled water must be provided until further notice, and residents are required to have access to free or low-cost services like drinking water tests and water filters. The state has also set a goal to replace all of Benton Harbor's lead service lines within 18 months.