State Rep. Alicia St. Germaine (R-Harrison Township) today led the Michigan House with strong bipartisan support in approving her plan to quickly notify residents when raw sewage or dangerous bacteria contaminate local waterways.

House Bill 4427, also known as the “Brown Alert” plan, would ensure the public is warned when public drains, river systems, and lakes become unsafe due to E. coli or sewage contamination. 

“When sewage spills happen, it’s a crappy situation, and the public deserves to know right away,” said St. Germaine. “From the local waterways behind your house to the lake where your kids swim, no one should be left guessing if the water’s clean or contaminated.”

Under this bill, when a county health department determines that a body of water has reached dangerous contamination levels where it is unhealth to touch, they must notify the county’s emergency manager. The emergency manager would then issue a “Brown Alert” through the Wireless Emergency Alert system, notifying residents of unsafe conditions.

 The alerts could warn communities of unsafe waterways, swimming areas, risks to drinking water, or potential harm to local fish and wildlife.

“This is about public health and transparency,” said St. Germaine. “Quick communication can prevent illness, protect ecosystems, and hold agencies accountable for keeping our water clean. Michigan’s water is too valuable to take for granted, and this plan makes sure we don’t just flush away responsibility.”