WASHINGTON — During a voluntary testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, several Congress members pressed Gov. Snyder on the Flint water crisis on Thursday, calling on him to reign.

Snyder told the committee that the man-made catastrophe was the result of government failure at all levels — local, state and federal.

The city’s tap water became contaminated after the state-appointed emergency manager temporarily switched its source from the Detroit system to the Flint River.

River water caused corrosion in the pipes, but the Michigan Department of Environmental Equality insisted that the water was safe to consume, despite complaints of foul odor, unusual color and outbreaks of rashes.

Snyder talked about the state’s relief efforts, saying that Lansing rushed to provide filters and bottled water and testing to residents upon knowing of the problem. 

US. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D- Pennsylvania) grilled the governor about the slow reaction.

“Governor Snyder, plausible deniability only works when it’s deniable and I’m not buying that you didn’t know about any of this until October 2015,” Cartwright said. “You were not in a medically-induced coma for a year and I’ve had about enough of your false contrition and your phony apologies.”

The congressman said the governor is doing his best to spread accountability instead of being accountable.

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D- Maryland) criticized Snyder for hiring an attorney to represent him in the Flint investigation at the state’s expense.

“There is no doubt in my mind that if a corporate CEO did what Governor Snyder’s administration has done, he would be hauled up on criminal charges,” Cummings said.

He added that there will be an entire generation of Flint children who suffer major health damages because of the Snyder Administration’s conduct.

Snyder said he trusts the thorough investigations to identify what went wrong. He urged state environmental officials to take responsibility for their actions as the state did.

“There is plenty of blame to share, but finger pointing will not help the people of Flint,” Snyder said in a statement. “That’s why I’m committed to delivering permanent, long-term solutions and the clean, safe drinking water to Flint that every Michigan citizen deserves.”