Macomb Today

State Representative St. Germaine from Harrison Township has introduced a legislative proposal aimed at alerting the public when nearby waters become contaminated with high levels of E. coli or raw sewage. The proposed system, termed a "Brown Alert," is designed to inform the community about unsafe water conditions.

"The brown alert is for crappy situations that endanger public safety," stated St. Germaine. He emphasized the importance of such alerts by comparing them to existing systems like severe weather warnings and Amber Alerts for missing children, arguing that "the public deserves to know when a waterway is unsafe for humans and animals."

House Bill 4427, introduced by St. Germaine, mandates county drain commissioners or public works commissioners to notify their local emergency managers upon determining dangerous sewage levels in any body of water. Following this notification, the emergency manager would be required to issue a "brown alert" through the wireless emergency alerts system within 12 hours.

These alerts aim to warn residents about potential hazards such as unsafe swimming conditions, threats to drinking water, and possible ecological damage affecting local wildlife.

"I'm not afraid to talk about what everyone else wants to flush and forget," remarked St. Germaine, stressing the need for "clear and timely communication" in order to protect Michigan's water resources and ensure resident safety.