Flint Water Crisis Timeline

Governor Rick Snyder appoints emergency manager for Flint after deficit of $25.7M reported. In the next 4 years Flint goes through 4 administrators.

City council votes to switch to Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA) to cut costs. KWA comes online in 2016. Flint must choose interim water source.

Water supply switches from the Detroit system using Lake Huron to Flint River. No corrosion control treatment is used to prevent lead leaching from old pipes. Residents soon report rashes, illnesses and odd color, taste, and odor in the water.

E-coli bacteria and coliform are detected in water. Flint issues a boil water advisory.

E-coli bacteria and coliform found again in water. Boil water advisory is continued.

General Motors plant in Flint stops using city water after workers note it causing rust on newly machined parts.

University of Michigan Flint detects elevated levels of lead in its water

Detroit’s water system offers to reconnect Flint and waive the $4-million fee. Flint’s emergency manager declines.

Water at Flint home found to have 104 parts per billion (ppb) of lead. Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) requires action at 15ppb.

E.P.A. expert calls water testing “alarming” and says state’s testing method may “profoundly understate results.” Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) claims Flint has an optimized corrosion control program.

E.P.A. learns Genesee County Health Dept. investigating Legionnaires’ disease in Flint and questions if connected to the water. (The final total was 87 cases and 9 deaths.)

DEQ tells Flint to optimize corrosion control.

Expert on city water quality at Virginia Tech University reports corrosiveness of Flint River causing lead to leach out of old pipes and into water supply. DEQ disputes conclusions.

Group of doctors at medical center in Flint urge city to stop using Flint River after finding high lead levels in children.

Flint issues lead advisory, recommending using only cold tap water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula.

Epidemiologists confirm elevated lead levels in children. Residents told to stop drinking water and governor orders distribution of filters and increased testing.

Flint reconnects to Detroit water, but residents still advised to use only filtered tap water for drinking, cooking, and bathing.

Flint declares an emergency. Governor Snyder passes a local emergency declaration.

President Obama declares a state of emergency for the situation in Flint.