reports city officials have known about the problem for years. reporter: the city of benton harbor gets its water from nearby lake michigan, but residents like francis davis say what comes up on the of the faucet is not safe to use. what water do you use to cook? the bottled water. reporter: to brush your teeth? bottled water. orter: leawase. boter. detectn the drinking watery s water system has failed six lead tests over the last three years. last month, concerned residents and activists petitioned the e.p.a. for help. in response, the state started distributing free bottled water to the city s nearly 10,000 residents. there s no urgency with the federal government. there s no urgency with the state government. and there s no urgency with the city government. they just don t get it. reporter: reverend edward pinkney started distributing water through his church two years ago and says many residents in this predominantly