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1. How did officials get away with ignoring such blatant proof that the water was bad? Is it fair to go so far as to call it poisoning? How could lack of trust in the government impact the city even after the crisis?
2. How might having to address issues with the pipes negatively impact the government? What are some reasons they ignored it related to piping?
3. Why did public attention fade? How is paying attention to it different for Flint residents?

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Pipes are now being replaced and officials say the water is safe, but residents still worry, drink bottled water and doubt their elected leaders.

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Rick Hayood loaded bottles of water into a resident's car in Flint, Mich., in October. Five years after the city's water crisis, suspicions remain high. Credit Credit Brittany Greeson for The New York Times

On April 25, 2014, a group of smiling officials in Flint, Mich., stood in front of television cameras, held their glasses aloft and toasted the switch to the city's new water source, the Flint River.

"Here's to Flint!" Dayne Walling, the mayor, said, taking a gulp of river water.

The Flint water crisis was born that day. Almost immediately, Flint residents began telling their elected officials that there was something wrong with the water, which smelled terrible, tasted like metal and seemed to give them skin rashes. They confronted elected officials outside City Hall, hoisting bottles full of rust-colored water from their taps, only to be told, again and again, that the water was fine.

The water was not fine. Flint officials had failed to add needed corrosion controls to the river water. Lead from the city's old pipes leached into the water, causing alarmingly high lead levels in the blood of many residents. The outcry that followed forced a change in the city's leadership, criminal charges against state and local officials and a yearslong effort to replace Flint's dangerous lead pipes.

But in Flint, the water crisis is by no means in the past.

"It's a community that's still dealing with the trauma and the aftermath of having been poisoned at the hands of the government," Karen Weaver, who replaced Mr. Walling as mayor largely because of anger over the water crisis, said in an interview this week. Ms. Weaver continues to tell residents to drink only bottled or filtered water.

On Thursday, pastors and activists gathered outside the city's water treatment plant to call for more help. Some wore shirts that said "Flint Is Still Broken." Half a decade into the water crisis, here is what has changed in the city - and what has not.

Five years ago, Melissa Mays was a concert promoter in Flint who drank from the tap and never worried about lead or Legionella. But when the water turned foul, Ms. Mays spoke out. She organized protests, filed lawsuits and became one of the most visible faces of her city's troubles.

Today, she drinks only bottled water. She showers quickly. She does not trust what the government tells her. "It's one huge nightmare piled on top of another one," Ms. Mays said this week.

She has scaled back her work in music. She now helps people find social services. There is also a personal toll. "I used to be a lot more optimistic and cheerful," she said, "but now I'm literally just pissed."

For a bit, several years ago, Ms. Mays said there was a sense that Flint might get enough national notice over the water crisis to overcome it. But she said not enough has been done. Attention faded. Faith has dwindled.

"We're back to where we first started, where we're yelling and screaming," Ms. Mays said. "And it seems like nobody can hear us."

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Replacing a lead water line with a copper one in 2016. The water in Flint now meets federal standards, according to Michigan officials. Credit Brittany Greeson for The New York Times

As the state of Michigan tells it, the water in Flint now meets federal standards. Levels of lead and copper are down. "Flint's water continues to test the same as or better than similar cities across the state and country," the state says.

But residents are wary. After all, in 2014 and 2015, officials also had insisted the water was safe, brushing aside the concerns of residents. Bottled water remains in high demand, and suspicion abounds about the city's lead pipes, its decaying water infrastructure and pretty much everything else.

"We don't trust," Ms. Weaver, the mayor, said. "Trust was broken on every single level of government."

Ms. Weaver vowed after taking office to replace all of the city's lead and galvanized-steel service lines, and she has made progress. More than 8,000 service lines have been replaced so far, and thousands more have been examined and found to not be made of lead. She hopes to have the rest - as many as 7,000 more - finished this summer.

But as work on the pipes progressed, officials have tried to wean residents off the free bottled water that National Guard troops distributed at the height of the crisis.

The state closed its bottled water distribution sites last year. Bottles donated by Nestlé continue to be handed out, but only from a few locations and on certain days, and with no promise of it continuing past August.

Flint's struggles did not start with the water. In the middle of the 20th century, Flint was a small but thriving city, a hub of manufacturing where solid, middle-class jobs at General Motors were plentiful. When the automotive industry faltered, so did Flint.

After thousands of factory jobs left Flint, so did many of its residents, and neighborhoods throughout the city are still marked by blight and abandoned houses, often vandalized or taken over by squatters. The city continues to lose residents: In 2017, Flint's population fell to 96,448. In 1960, the city was twice as big.

"Water was a symptom of this much bigger problem of a community with a really rich history that rightfully feels that it's continually being left behind," said Representative Dan Kildee, Democrat of Michigan, whose district includes Flint.

Though the city has been lifted by its universities and a small but energetic push to rebuild small businesses, the solid jobs in manufacturing that were lost decades ago have not been replaced. With a declining tax base, the city's fiscal condition slid, too. Ultimately, Flint's finances were so perilous that the state sent in emergency managers to oversee city operations, a move that irked local leaders and left many in the Democratic stronghold complaining that Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, was taking away local control.

An emergency manager was still guiding the city at the point at which Flint switched water sources, a decision that was aimed at saving money.

"Flint was, I think, before the water crisis, just on the edge of a crisis of some kind," Mr. Kildee said. "And all it took was this one thing to tip the scale."

The authorities pledged to bring justice to Flint. Those at fault in the water crisis would be held responsible, they promised. "These charges are only the beginning," Bill Schuette, Michigan's former attorney general, said three years ago, as he announced the first criminal cases. "There will be more to come - that I can guarantee you."

And there were more. By now, 15 people who worked in state and local government roles have been charged with crimes in Flint's crisis. And the charges have reached high levels of Michigan's government, and suggested that officials had failed to warn residents of known risks and allowed their desire to save money in financially strapped Flint to come before the safety of water.

Still, five years later, no one has been sentenced to prison time. Seven people have pleaded no contest to misdemeanors as parts of plea deals, while others - including some of the highest-level employees - have cases still pending.

"Whether they plea bargain out or actually do jail time, I think it would mean a lot to the community," said Eric Mays, a Flint City Council member who is not related to Melissa Mays. He added: "We are in a watching-every-step-of-the-way mode."

Mayor Karen Weaver of Flint, center, continues to tell residents to drink only bottled or filtered water. Credit Brittany Greeson for The New York Times

Some of the Flint leaders who stood before the cameras, toasting the city's new water supply, are gone - at least partly because of the water.

A re-election bid by Mr. Walling, a Flint native and Rhodes scholar who seemed to have a promising political career ahead, fell apart in late 2015 as test results confirmed what residents had been worried about for months.

Others who are gone: Mr. Snyder, Michigan's governor at the time; a manager appointed by the state to oversee Flint's finances; and numerous state and local employees who were involved in the city's water system.

Mr. Snyder was prevented from seeking re-election by term limits. But Flint was perhaps the most difficult chapter of his eight years in office. Mr. Snyder was not charged with wrongdoing, but some of his administration's leaders were, and some residents blamed him.

Mr. Mays, the councilman, said he had seen progress since the city was released from state oversight and since Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, took office this year.

Ms. Weaver, too, sounded hopeful.

"I don't say it's over," Ms. Weaver said, but "we're moving from crisis to recovery, and you can see the progress that we've made."

Mitch Smith covers the Midwest and the Great Plains. Since joining The Times in 2014, he has written extensively about urban violence, oil pipelines, state-level politics and the national debate over police tactics. He is based in Chicago. @mitchksmith

Julie Bosman is a national correspondent who covers the Midwest. Born and raised in Wisconsin and based in Chicago, she has written about politics, education, law enforcement and literature. @juliebosman * Facebook

Monica Davey is the Chicago bureau chief, covering the Midwest. She joined The Times in 2003. She previously worked at The Chicago Tribune, and wrote for the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, the Roanoke Times and others. @monicadavey1

A version of this article appears in print on , Section A, Page 13 of the New York edition with the headline: Five Years After a Crisis, Flint's Residents Doubt The Water Is Any Safer. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe

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Flint's Water Crisis Started 5 Years Ago. It's Not Over.

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Pipes are now being replaced and officials say the water is safe, but residents still worry, drink bottled water and doubt their elected leaders. On April 25, 2014, a group of smiling officials in Flint, Mich., stood in front of television cameras, held their glasses aloft and toasted the switch to the city's new water source, the Flint River.

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1. How did the crisis fade from the public eye? Why did people stop caring / assume it was over?
2. Why is lake Huron a better source of water than the Flint River?
3. What is the best way to raise awareness? Who is capable of facilitating change?

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FLINT, MI - Flint's still not whole.

That was the message at Monday's gathering at Kearsley Park during the early afternoon hours.

Dozens in the community gathered to commemorate and remember eight years since the beginning of the water crisis on April 25, the same day that the city's water source was changed to the Flint River.

"It has been eight years too long," said DeWaun Robinson, Flint Black Lives Matter Chapter president. "... We understand that it is a long process. We don't want to ever give up."

The Flint water crisis was triggered after the city stopped buying pre-treated Lake Huron water from Detroit in April 2014 and instead used the Flint River as its water source until October 2015.

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a Flint pediatrician, was the first to find elevated levels of lead in the blood of Flint children during the city's water crisis.

Joelena Freeman, a lifelong Flint resident, has more than $1,000 in expenses each year for drinking water on top of her water bill.

She still only uses the water to shower and wash dishes.

"I feel that we are still in the thick of everything. Nothing has really happened," Freeman said. "... I love Flint and our community, and I am glad we are able to come together. If we didn't have this support, I would just be at home mad about the water."

Part of the dozens gathered at the part, 1st Ward Councilman Eric Mays took the day to reflect on some of the earliest days of the water crisis, when he and many other "Water Warriors" joined to raise attention about what was going on in Flint.

"The work is not done yet. Eight years later, I wish it was done," Mays said.

Mayor Sheldon Neeley said there is still lots of progress to be made - both infrastructurally and psychologically.

"We have made great strides in water reconstruction and the building of a secondary delivery system, ensuring that we never drink from the Flint River again," Neeley said. "... The only thing that can help us through this is results - and providing those results for residents."

The city announced on Monday the completion of a secondary water source connection -- with the Genesee County Drain Commission -- so there is a backup in case service from the Great Lakes Water Authority is ever interrupted.

Since its failed attempt to treat water from the Flint River ended in October 2015, Flint has purchased pre-treated water from GLWA, but it's operated without a backup water supply.

Robinson described today's event as a "second wind" that reinvigorates the community.

"It is a passive reminder that we continue to stay in the fight," he said.

Senate Majority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, issued a statement in recognition of the anniversary.

"There will be no justice for the twelve we lost nor the children who ingested lead during their most vulnerable, formative years," Ananich wrote in a statement. "But accountability under the law is still within reach and I will continue to say that, whoever had a hand in this crisis - no matter how powerful - must still answer for their actions or inaction."

Criminal and civil cases involving former local and government officials are still plodding along in the court system.

Those cases include criminal charges against former Gov. Rick Snyder; Eden Wells, former chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; Nick Lyon,former director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; Darnell Earley, former Flint emergency manager; Gerald Ambrose, former Flint emergency manager;Jarrod Agen, former director of communications and former chief of staff of former Gov. Rick Snyder; Richard Baird, former transformation manager and senior adviser to former Gov. Rick Snyder; Nancy Peeler, current Early Childhood Health Section manager at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; and, Howard Croft,former director of Flint's Department of Public Works.

Monday was the 27th day in the bellwether civil trial in which four Flint children have sued two consultants that advised the city during its water crisis, claiming they were negligent in their work and exposed them to water that was contaminated with lead.

In court filings, the companies -- Veolia North America and Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam -- have questioned the children's injuries and said government officials -- not their employees -- were responsible for the water crisis.

Information about the $626-million Flint water civil settlement was also shared at Monday's event.

Attorneys were available at the event to help residents navigate the claims process after it opened in January this year.

The deadline to submit claim forms and supporting documentation is set for May 12.

More information can be found on the Flint Water Official Settlement website.
Historic $626-million Flint water crisis settlement approved by federal court judge Claims period starts Jan. 12 for $626-million Flint water crisis settlement Funding secured to remove hazardous Hamilton Dam on Flint River Strategic plan for Flint schools to be revisited with several changes

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'The world thinks the water crisis is over. It's not': Flint remembers 8 years since crisis began

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FLINT, MI - Flint's still not whole. That was the message at Monday's gathering at Kearsley Park during the early afternoon hours. Dozens in the community gathered to commemorate and remember eight years since the beginning of the water crisis on April 25, the same day that the city's water source was changed to the Flint River.

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1. How might school accomadate kids exposed to lead? How might doctors be more helpful in guiding parents with disabled children?
2. How are they responsible? What other institutions may be responsible?
3. In what ways does the school system not benefit kids with disabilities?

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More than a dozen families in Flint, Michigan, are suing the public school system, arguing their children were exposed to brain-damaging levels of lead during the water crisis six years ago.

The parents say that exposure may have caused or exacerbated their children's disability-related needs. These families will make their case in federal court this summer.

"What we're enforcing in this lawsuit in federal court is a federal entitlement statute that children are identified and that their disability-related needs are provided with accommodations and services so that they can access a quality education," says Kristen Totten, an education attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union in Michigan.

This case is just one of several lawsuits against the Flint school system. The city's rate of special education students has grown steadily since the water crisis began -- 28% of students are in special education programs, while the national average is about 13%.

Medical professionals have said there's no way to prove conclusively that lead has caused new disabilities in Flint. But it has been proven that children exposed to lead are at higher risk of neurological damage and developmental delays.

Jessica Gutierrez, a Flint native and mother of five, says she noticed significant behavioral changes in her children since the water crisis.

"I've had a child that was potty trained and now all of a sudden she has a problem with incontinence," Gutierrez says. "The worst types of behavioral issues are the ones where you can see that your child realizes that what they're doing is not normal."

Her children were tested, and all five were diagnosed with different psychological and development issues. But only one of her children is currently in a special education program.

"If you have the privilege and you have the knowledge about the workings of the school system and you run into a parent or you see a parent or a child that needs help, advocate for them," Gutierrez says. "And we hope that the cure to fix this problem will come in our time. It's not just to help the future because we need help now."
On dealing with her children's change in behavior
Gutierrez: "The worst thing about that is if you didn't have a background about why your children were behaving the way that they are, you would think that they're just inherently being disobedient. So if I jump a little bit forward, the state of Michigan put into play basically a system or a place, a medical place, where you can get your children tested for neurological testing. When you go and you get your child tested and you find out that there is something most definitely wrong with your child, it's like a retraumatization all over again because, oh, my goodness, all of these times I harshly punished my kid, so you have that to go back over."
On her children being diagnosed with varying neurological and behavioral issues
Gutierrez: "The thing is, you leave [the doctor] and you're like, 'So what do I do now?' And that's not the only question that parents have. Some of the teachers that I've spoken with are also having that concern. I was pregnant during 2014. I had my baby in 2015. And there are programs early on for the little ones. And so what now they're starting to see is now this is the influx, the introduction of the children that were just at the precipice of the water crisis. They were in utero. Their parents were drinking the water. They were feeding it to their kids in the bottles. And what they're seeing with the students is they don't know how to handle it."
On how the spike in children who need special education is partly related to school policy
Totten: "We brought this lawsuit back in October of 2016 after approaching the state to say you're doing things for the 0 to 5 [years old] population, but what are you doing for the K through 12 population? And what they were able to tell us is that they were providing nutritional supplements, some leafy green vegetables and nurses, which is a good thing. But we knew that was going to fall very short as to what the need would demand, because we had been watching Flint even before the water crisis and knowing that they were not meeting their obligations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which one, requires that you find the children who are struggling to learn and then you provide them with a free, appropriate public education. We knew that they weren't doing this because we were also monitoring the level of suspensions and expulsions from the Flint Community School District, and we found that it was the highest in the state.

"So we had to file this lawsuit in October of 2016, along with the New York law firm of White & Case and also the Education Law Center of New Jersey. We filed it, and by October 2017, we were realizing not enough is happening. And so we filed a preliminary injunction and we knew that utilizing the psycho educational evaluations that are typical in schools, when you assess to see if a child has a disability, were too subjective. So we filed this preliminary injunction. We had excellent neuropsychologist come out and perform neuroscience on eight of our named plaintiffs and they found devastating impacts. In our case, we don't have to say that it's because of the lead. It could be because of the trauma that's related to the lead. But we know that a neuropsychological evaluation is what really gets into targeting what cognitive functions have been impacted."
On the emotional impacts of the water crisis
Totten: "There were some assessments done of adults in Flint and a finding of PTSD. We needed to make sure that we filed this lawsuit to tell the families of Flint: We see you. We validate what you're seeing in your children. And we're going to make sure that the school district, but more importantly, the Genesee Intermediate School District and the state of Michigan through the Michigan Department of Education sends what resources are needed for what the state inflicted upon these families."
Marcelle Hutchins produced and edited this interview for broadcast with Kathleen McKenna. Samantha Raphelson adapted it for the web.

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After Flint Water Crisis, Number Of Students With Special Education Needs Spikes

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More than a dozen families in Flint, Michigan, are suing the public school system, arguing their children were exposed to brain-damaging levels of lead during the water crisis six years ago. The parents say that exposure may have caused or exacerbated their children's disability-related needs.

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1. What natural disasters have previously occurred in Flint? What impact did they have? Why may this location be susceptible to natural disasters?
2. What caused the Flint river to become so polluted? Why did the usual filtration techniques not work? What impact does pipe corrosion have? How have corporations and waste plants polluted the river? How much are they to blame for this crisis? How did the road salt impact this? Why may Flint need this salt? Was using it preventable?
3. How may the seasons impact the river and the supply of water? Why would the water upstream be improving but not downstream?

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The Flint water crisis did not begin on April 25th, 2014, when the city switched its water supply from Detroit’s system, tapping Lake Huron to its own on the Flint River. That tragic mistake was…

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1. Why is the supply of bottled water ending? Is it the cost of bottled water? Supply? Lack of care? Where is this water coming from? Who is providing it? Who has the most access? Who has the most need? How important is the use of plastic and being environmentally friendly in this case? Does human need come before the ecosystem? Even after the crisis is over, will the residents ever regain their trust for the government? What impacts could that have to the city? Will the need for bottled water ever go away?
2. What is the structure of the service lines? Why are they underground? How may the cost of replacing them impact the water supply? Why may the city not be meeting their deadlines? What is the impact of digging them up? How may people's lives be impacted by the destruction of lawns and sidewalks? How about the ecosystem?
3. What is the court system like in Michigan? Where is the court physically in relation to Flint? Why were those seven other people dismissed? Will people who can't afford an attorney be taken seriously? Who is most likely to get justice?

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Bottled water dries up in Flint as water crisis fallout continues in new year

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More than eight years after the Flint water crisis was triggered, bottled water distribution has ended at help centers in Flint while the fallout from the man-made emergency continues into 2023.

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1. Mentions Flint is a majority black and impoverished city, historically why might this be the case? What could that fact have to do with their concerns being ignored / dismissed? Why might they have been looking for a cheaper water source?
2. Where is the Flint River located? How close is it to the city? What does the land surrounding the river look like? What other wildlife is natural to the river? Are there other water sources that are accessible? Would a different water source fix this problem? Could people move away to a place with clean water? What factors may prevent this? Are the cities and towns near Flint accessible / affordable?
4. Why might the potential of disease be a more serious risk for people living in Flint? Where is the closest hospital? Is it accessible? Why may elevated lead levels be chalked up to change in seasons? Does that hold up scientifically?
5. What jobs are available in Flint? Why might government employees get access to bottled water? What is the government structure? Who makes up the government? What employees do they value most? How much of the population has children? What impacts may this specifically have on families?

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Lead seepage into the drinking water in Flint, Mich., has caused a massive public health crisis and prompted President Obama to declare a federal state of emergency there.

The problem began when the city switched its water supply in 2014. Almost immediately, residents of Flint - a majority-black city where 40 percent of people live in poverty - started complaining about the quality of the water. City and state officials denied for months that there was a serious problem.

By that time, supply pipes had sustained major corrosion and lead was leaching into the water. The city switched back to its original water supply late last year, but it was too late to reverse the damage to the pipes.

High blood lead levels are especially harmful to children and pregnant women, and can cause "learning disabilities, behavioral problems and mental retardation," the World Health Organization says.

Here's how the crisis unfolded:

June 2012-April 2013: Flint Looks For Cheaper Water

Flint officials explore whether the city can save money by switching from its current provider, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD). City and state officials weigh an alternative: Flint could build its own pipeline to connect to the Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA). That option was projected to save the region $200 million over 25 years, according to City Council meeting minutes.

On April 16, Flint Emergency Manager Ed Kurtz tells the state treasurer that the city is going to join the KWA. A day later, Detroit's water system tells Kurtz it is terminating service to the city effective a year later, in April 2014.

April 25, 2014: Switch To The Flint River

Until Flint's pipeline connecting to the KWA is operational, the city needs an interim source of water and turns to the Flint River, which was also its main water source until the 1960s.

Flint River water starts flowing to the city on April 25.

In a press release, the city characterized it as a temporary switch and aimed to ease resident concerns about the water quality. Here's an excerpt:

"Even with a proven track record of providing perfectly good water for Flint, there still remains lingering uncertainty about the quality of the water. In an effort to dispel myths and promote the truth about the Flint River and its viability as a residential water resource, there have been numerous studies and tests conducted on its water by several independent organizations. ... Michael Prysby of the Michigan DEQ Office of Drinking Water verified that 'the quality of the water being put out meets all of our drinking water standards and Flint water is safe to drink.'

...

" 'It's regular, good, pure drinking water, and it's right in our backyard,' said Mayor [Dayne] Walling, "this is the first step in the right direction for Flint, and we take this monumental step forward in controlling the future of our community's most precious resource.' "

Officials did not immediately treat the Flint River water to ensure it didn't cause corrosion in the pipes - instead, they took what Michigan Radio characterized as a "wait-and-see" approach.

May: Residents Complain

Some Flint residents complain about the smell and color of the new water, which is 70 percent harder than its previous water source, according to MLive.

August: E. coli And Total Coliform Bacteria Detected

E. coli and total coliform bacteria are detected in Flint's water, prompting multiple advisories for residents to boil their water.

An informational document from Michigan's Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) says the city addressed the problem by increasing chlorine levels in the water.

Oct. 13: General Motors Stops Using Flint River water

General Motors says it will stop using Flint River water, fearing corrosion in its machines. "Because of all the metal ... you don't want the higher chlorine water (to result in) corrosion," GM spokesman Tom Wickham tells MLive. "We noticed it some time ago (and) the discussions have been going on for some time."

Jan. 2, 2015: Disinfection Byproducts Detected

Flint is found to be in violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act because of the level of total trihalomethanes, or TTHM, in the water. TTHM are disinfection byproducts that occur when chlorine interacts with organic matter in the water. Some types are possible carcinogens for humans, the CDC says.

In response, the state starts buying bottled water for its employees at government offices. This continues even after TTHM levels returned to compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act in September 2015, MLive reported.

Feb. 25: Tests Show High Lead Levels In Home

A city test "reveals high lead content in the water of a Flint resident's home." As Michigan Radio reported, the water at Lee Anne Walters' home "turns up with a lead content of 104 parts per billion. Fifteen parts per billion is the [Environmental Protection Agency]'s limit for lead in drinking water."

In April, Walters says her child was diagnosed with lead poisoning. An independent test done by Virginia Tech researchers finds lead levels at 13,200 ppb - water is considered hazardous waste at 5,000 ppb.

April: State Agency Notifies EPA That Flint Did Not Implement Corrosion Controls

The EPA says it was notified by the MDEQ on or about April 24 "that the City did not have corrosion control treatment in place at the Flint Water Treatment Plant."

July 13: 'Anyone Who Is Concerned About Lead ... Can Relax'

A leaked internal memo from the EPA expresses concern about lead levels, including the level at Lee Anne Walters' home. The ACLU picks up the report.

Michigan Radio reaches out to the MDEQ for comment about the memo, and spokesman Brad Wurfel says, "Let me start here - anyone who is concerned about lead in the drinking water in Flint can relax."

He adds that he hasn't seen the memo, but that preliminary tests show the Walters test was an "outlier." Wurfel tells Michigan Radio, "It does not look like there is any broad problem with the water supply freeing up lead as it goes to homes."

Aug. 20: Lead-Level Samples Excluded From Report

The MDEQ dropped two samples from its initial report on lead levels from the city, which put the result within federally mandated levels.

"If the state had just dropped one high sample, Flint still would have been over the federal action level," Michigan Radio reports. "But dropping two samples put them below the action level."

Officials said the two samples did not meet federal criteria - because one of the samples had a water filter and another came from a business rather than a home, Michigan Radio reports.

September: Virginia Tech Team Finds 'Serious' Lead Levels In Flint

A team from Virginia Tech tests hundreds of homes for lead in Flint, and says that "preliminary tests show 'serious' levels of lead in city water."

"The levels that we have seen in Flint are some of the worst that I have seen in more than 25 years working in the field," Dr. Marc Edwards, a member of the Virginia Tech team, tells Michigan Radio.

Officials such as MDEQ spokesman Brad Wurfel dismiss the Virginia Tech results. He tells Michigan Radio: "I don't know how they're getting the results they're getting. ... I know that it doesn't match with any of the other surveillance in the area."

In an email to MLive journalist Ron Fonger, Wurfel says:

"It's scientifically probable a research team that specializes in looking for lead in water could have found it in Flint when the city was on its old water supply. We won't know that, because they've only just arrived in town and quickly proven the theory they set out to prove, and while the state appreciates academic participation in this discussion, offering broad, dire public health advice based on some quick testing could be seen as fanning political flames irresponsibly. Residents of Flint concerned about the health of their community don't need more of that."

In a September interview with NPR, Edwards says: "Flint is the only city in America that I'm aware of that does not have a corrosion control plan."

Sept. 24: Study Finds Elevated Lead Levels In Children

A study from the local Hurley Medical Center found that 2.1 percent of children age 5 and under had elevated blood lead levels prior to the switch to Flint River water, compared to 4.0 percent after the switch. A spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said the elevated lead level results may be a result of seasonal changes, rather than the change in the water source.

Sept. 25: City Lead Advisory

Flint issues a lead advisory to residents. "While the City is in full compliance with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, this information is being shared as part of a public awareness campaign to ensure that everyone takes note that no level of lead is considered safe," it reads.

That same day, Gov. Snyder's chief of staff, Dennis Muchmore, writes in an email that the MDEQ and Department of Community Health "feel that some in Flint are taking the very sensitive issue of children's exposure to lead and trying to turn it into a political football claiming the departments are underestimating the impacts on the population and particularly trying to shift responsibility to the state."

Oct. 2: Water Filters And Testing

An action plan released by Snyder says the city and state will provide free filters and water testing for Flint residents, among other things.

Oct. 16: Switch Back To Detroit Water Supply

Flint switches back to the Detroit water supplier, which is now called the Great Lakes Water Authority. The governor's office said in press briefing notes that the Detroit water "will be easier to manage. It comes from a more stable source than the river, it is fully optimized for corrosion control, and it is clear that residents of Flint have more confidence in this water source."

Oct. 18: State Regulator Cites Confusion About Federal Protocol

In an email to a Detroit News reporter, MDEQ Director Dan Wyant discusses why there were no corrosion controls in place when the city started using Flint River water. He seems to chalk up the lack of corrosion controls to a misunderstanding:

"What has become clear in recent weeks is that the staff believed they were handling the situation in accordance with the proper protocol for a water provider using a new source, but the federal Lead and Copper rule has a particular provision for communities over 50,000 people; that the system operator must continue treating with full corrosion control even as they test the water.

"What the staff did would have been the proper protocol for a community under 50,000 people. None of the DEQ staff in this division had ever worked on a water source switch for a community over 50,000 people - it's uncommon for big communities to switch sources.

"It's increasingly clear there was confusion here, but it also is increasingly that DEQ staff believed they were using the proper federal protocol here and they were not."

Wyant adds that lime had been added to the water but provided "insufficient corrosion control."

A December email from Snyder's communications director, Meegan Holland, also said that Flint never tested the impact of the Flint River water on the distribution system.

Dec. 14: Mayor Declares State Of Emergency

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver declares a state of emergency over the elevated lead levels in the city's water. "I am requesting that all things be done necessary to address this state of emergency declaration, effective immediately," Weaver tells the City Council, according to MLive.

Weaver, who vowed to fix the water crisis, beat out incumbent Dayne Walling in an election the previous month.

Dec. 29: State Regulation Officials Resign

MDEQ Director Dan Wyant and spokesperson Brad Wurfel resign, MLive reports. This comes a day after the Flint Water Advisory Task Force, created by the governor, releases a preliminary report on the crisis and concludes that primary responsibility rests with the MDEQ.

The report says that in the agency's interactions with the public about their concerns, its response "was often one of aggressive dismissal, belittlement, and attempts to discredit these efforts and the individuals involved."

Jan. 2016: Snyder and Obama Declare State Of Emergency

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder declares a state of emergency in Genesee County due to the lead in Flint's drinking water.

President Obama declared a state of emergency less than two weeks later. The move "means FEMA is authorized to provide equipment and resources to the people affected. Federal funding will help cover the cost of providing water, water filters and other items," as we reported.

Jan. 21: EPA Issues Emergency Order

The EPA issues an emergency order to take action on the Flint water crisis. "EPA has determined that the City of Flint's and the State of Michigan's responses to the drinking water crisis in Flint have been inadequate and that these failures continue," the emergency order reads.

Feb 3: Testimony From Flint Officials And Experts

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hears testimony from several Flint officials and experts.

But much attention has focused on who wasn't testifying at the hearing: Gov. Snyder and city emergency managers who presided over the change in Flint's water supply.

Feb. 17: Gov. Snyder Testifies

Snyder, along with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, testifies before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

"Let me be blunt," the governor says in his opening statement. "This was a failure of government at all levels. Local, state and federal officials - we all failed the families of Flint."

March 21: 'Next Steps' For Flint

Snyder outlines state agencies' goals in addressing the Flint crisis.

The action plan includes providing professional support for children under 6 with elevated lead levels, replacing water fixtures in public facilities, replacing the city's 8,000 lead service lines, and increasing resources for schools.

March 23: Independent Probe Pins Blame On State Officials

Supporting its preliminary conclusion, the task force charged with investigating the causes of the Flint water crisis says in its final report that the MDEQ bears primary responsibility.

Task force member Chris Kolb tells reporters:

"From a regulatory standpoint, to a protection of human health and the environment standpoint, they missed the boat completely. And it is extremely troublesome to me that an agency whose primary role, once again, is to protect human health and the environment came to these decisions, and they never backed off these decisions, no matter how many red flags they saw."

Others are also to blame, the report says, including the state's Department of Health and Human Services, the city's emergency managers and the governor.

April 12: Researchers Say Flint's Water Is Still Unsafe

Despite improved lead levels in Flint's water, it remains unsafe to drink without a filter, according to results released from Virginia Tech researchers. (Though Gov. Snyder later pledged to drink filtered Flint water for 30 days.)

That's partially because residents have been using very little of the tainted water. As the Two-Way has reported, "in an unfortunate cycle, the water additives that would 're-scale' corroded pipes in the water system, thereby preventing lead from leaching into the water, are not reaching the pipes because people in Flint don't want to pay for contaminated water that they can't use."

MLive reports that in December, Flint began adding phosphates to the water that would "rebuild the protective coating inside transmission lines."

April 20: Criminal Charges Filed Against 3 Officials

Michigan's attorney general, Bill Schuette, announces that three people will face charges - the first criminal charges leveled against officials over the lead crisis.

Stephen Busch and Michael Prysby are state officials at the MDEQ. City employee Michael Glasgow is Flint's water quality supervisor. As the Two-Way reported, the three "face felony charges including misconduct, neglect of duty and conspiracy to tamper with evidence. They've also been charged with violating Michigan's Safe Drinking Water Act."

June 22: Lawsuit Filed Against 2 Corporations

Schuette announced that his office is suing two companies involved in Flint's crisis, and he says the damages could reach hundreds of millions of dollars.

Veolia, a French company, was hired by the city as a water-quality consultant in 2015. Texas-based firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam was originally hired in 2011 and helped to operate the water treatment plant using the Flint River. The civil lawsuit accuses both firms of negligence and public nuisance, and also accused Veolia of fraud.

"In Flint, Veolia and LAN were hired to do a job and failed miserably," Schuette told reporters at a news conference. "They failed miserably in their job - basically botched it, didn't stop the water in Flint from being poisoned. They made it worse, that's what they did."

July 29: Criminal Charges Filed Against 6 Officials

Schuette announced criminal charges against six more current and former state employees, bringing the total number of people charged to nine.

Liane Shekter-Smith is the former director of the drinking water and municipal assistance office within the MDEQ. She and two subordinates, Adam Rosenthal and Patrick Cook, allegedly misled officials about Flint's water treatment plant, which was not in compliance with lead and copper rules.

The other three people charged are current or former employees of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The director of the child health unit, Nancy Peeler, her subordinate, Robert Scott, and a state epidemiologist Corinne Miller allegedly failed to release a report that showed unsafe lead levels in the blood of Flint children.

All six are charged with misconduct in office, conspiracy, and willful neglect of duty. Rosenthal is also charged with tampering with evidence, for allegedly requesting water tests that did not show elevated lead.

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Lead-Laced Water In Flint: A Step-By-Step Look At The Makings Of A Crisis

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Lead seepage into the drinking water in Flint, Mich., has causing a major public health crisis and prompted President Obama to declare a federal state of emergency. This is how it unfolded.