With lead continuing to leak into Flint's water supply it's unclear when the timetable of events occurred to cause the water crisis. Flint has continued to struggle with obtaining clean water, dating back to the city's decision to draw from the Flint River in 2014. Below is a comprehensive timeline of the major events that took place:
2006:
Studies regarding Genesee County long-term water needs indicate that Flint River water can be safely treated but that it does not have enough capacity for permanent use
2013:
March 25th – Flint city council votes 7-1 to leave Detroit Water and Sewage Department and go to Karengodi Water Authority as its water source.
April 16th – Emergency Manager Ed Kurtz signs contract for move to KWA.
April 17th – DWSD provides notice of termination, effective one year later. DWSD and Flint cannot come to terms on an agreement.
June – City of Flint decides to use the Flint river as a water source.
2014:
April 25th – Began using Flint water.
May – Complaints start. State says not to worry.
June – Flint treats water for corrosion.
June – Dayne Walling dismisses comments about water.
August – City issued water boil.
September – Water tested positive for E-Coli.
October – General Motors engine plant stops using Flint water, saying it rusts parts.
2015:
January
January 2nd – Flint issues advisory warning that its water contains high levels of water-disinfectant chemicals. Sick and elderly people may be at risk.
January 12th – Flint declines access to water from Detroit source, insists it’s safe.
January 13th – Snyder names Jerry Ambrose as Flint’s new emergency manager; Earley is reassigned as emergency manager for Detroit Public Schools.
January 21st – Residents show up to a town hall meeting in droves, complaining that the water is causing myriad symptoms.
February
February 3rd – State officials pledge $2 million for Flint’s water system.
February 18th – 104 parts per billion of lead detected in drinking water.
February 27th – Miguel Del Toral, EPA expert, shows concern over lead test results.
February – 40-member advisory committee is formed. Mayor Dayne says committee will ensure the community is involved in the issue.
March
March 3rd – Second testing detects 397 parts per billion of lead in drinking water.
March 12th – Veolia, a consultant group hired by Flint, reports that the city’s water meets state and federal standards.
March 19th – Flint promises to spend $2 million on immediate improvements on its water supplies.
March 24th – Ambrose denies a City Council vote to “do things necessary” to switch back to the Detroit water system, calling the vote “incomprehensible.”
March 27th – Flint officials say the quality of its water has improved and the water meets all state and federal standards for safety.
April
April 28th – Marc Edwards conducts new tests without flushing the taps first and finds lead levels as high as 13,000 ppb.
April 29th – the state lifts Flint’s financial emergency designation and Ambrose leaves the emergency manager position.
May
May 6th – Tests reveal high lead levels in two more homes in Flint.
June
June – EPA warning of lead levels. Warning not made public.
July
July 1st – Susan Hedman suggests Del Toral’s report was premature.
July 2nd – EPA administrator tells Flint’s mayor that it would be “premature to draw on any conclusions” based on a leaked EPA memo regarding lead.
July 22nd – Dennis Muchmore, Chief of Staff to Snyder, announces frustration over situation in Flint. $100 a day of anti-corrosives would have corrected the problem, city officials didn’t take action.
August
August 17th – Based on results showing lead levels at 11 parts per billion from Jan. to June 2015, the DEQ tells Flint to optimize corrosion control.
September
September 2nd – Marc Edwards, Virginia Tech professor, tested water and said not to drink the water. Soon after the DEQ disputed his results.
September 15th – Edwards determines that Flint River water is 19 times as corrosive as Detroit tap water.
September 24th – Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha said levels of lead in children doubled/tripled.
September 29th – Gov. Rick Snyder pledges to take action in response to the lead levels. First acknowledgement by the state that lead is the problem.
October
October 2nd – Snyder announces that the state will spend $1 million to buy water filters and test water in Flint public schools.
October 2nd – A press release from Snyder’s office: “the water leaving Flint’s drinking water system is safe to drink but some families with lead plumbing in their homes could experience higher levels of lead in the water that comes out of their faucets.”
October 8th – Snyder calls for Flint to go back to using water from Detroit’s systems again.
October 15th – Michigan Legislature and Snyder approve $9.4 million in aid to Flint, including $6 million to help switch its drinking water back to Detroit.
October 16th – Switches back to Detroit water. State officials say Hanna-Attisha is right.
October 21st – Snyder announces an independent advisory task force will review water use and testing in Flint.
October – DEQ Dan Wyant reports staff used inappropriate protocol for corrosion control.
November
November – Four families filed class action lawsuit.
November – Karen Weavers runs for mayor to help solve water crisis.
November 3rd – Water is being reviewed by EPA.
November 3rd – Voters elect Karen Weaver over incumbent Mayor Dayne.
November 16th – Lawyers announce a class-action lawsuit against city and state officials on behalf of Flint residents.
December
December 9th – Flint adds additional corrosion controls.
December 14th – Flint declares an emergency.
December 29th – Snyder accepts the resignation of DEQ Director Dan Wyant
2016:
January
5th – Snyder declares state of emergency.
12th – National Guard asked to send water.
13th – After 10 deaths using city water tied to Legionnaire’s Disease with 87 total cases.
16th – Federal government allocates $5 million in aid.
20th – Snyder asks Obama to reconsider his denial of a federal disaster declaration.
20th – Governor releases 270 pages of emails about Flint water crisis.
21st – EPA controlling Flint water collecting.
21st – Obama allocates $80 million to Michigan.
21st – Head of EPA region 5 Susan Hedman announces resignation, effective Feb. 1st.
22nd – Snyder denies suggestions that Flint crisis was the result of environmental racism.
24th – Revealed that Ed Kurtz, then Flint’s emergency manager, rejected using Flint River water. Unclear why use of Flint River water was later authorized.
25th – State announces that Red Cross and National Guard teams have delivered bottled water to each Flint house twice and will now dial back on the deliveries.
26th – Ambrose resigns from his position on Lansing’s Financial Health team.
