Health officials advise Michigan town to use bottled water amid what local activists call a "persistent" lead crisis

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHSS) on Wednesday recommended residents of Benton Harbor rely on bottled water instead of tap water as a precautionary measure while various agencies work to decrease the risk of lead exposure. Activist groups say lead in the city's drinking water has been a "persistent, widespread, and severe public health crisis" for at least the past three years.

"Protecting the health and safety of Benton Harbor residents is a top priority," the state health department director Elizabeth Hertel said in a statement. "We've listened to the community's concerns, we are recommending that residents use bottled water for cooking, drinking and brushing teeth."

Under the advisory, bottled water will be made available at various distribution sites throughout the city. More than 4,500 cases of bottled water have been delivered to Benton Harbor to date, with another 15,500 cases expected to be delivered within coming days, according to the Michigan health department.