This city will rely on bottled water for weeks because of high lead levels

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A water main break Wednesday left most residents of Benton Harbor, Mich., without water as the city continues to deal with lead pipe water quality issues.

Don Campbell/The Herald-Palladium via AP

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Don Campbell/The Herald-Palladium via AP

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Volunteers distribute bottled water to residents Thursday, at Benton Harbor High School.

Don Campbell/The Herald-Palladium via AP

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Don Campbell/The Herald-Palladium via AP

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Oswald said bottled water has been pushed hard because of questions about the effectiveness of tap filters in Newark, New Jersey.

«Before we go back and say the filters are absolutely, positively effective, they want to make sure the water chemistry in Benton Harbor» doesn’t pose a challenge, Oswald said.

Chris Cook, an engineer for the city, said 100 water line replacements are under contract so far with a federal grant and 200 more could be added by the end of 2021.

• drinking water