State Rep. Alicia St. Germain of Harrison Township has introduced a bill that would mandate counties to issue a “Brown Alert” when raw sewage or anything else contaminates waterways with E. coli.

St. Germaine said she has bi-partisan support for the bill that would require a county drain commissioner or public works commissioner to notify their local emergency manager when they determine that a body of water has dangerous sewage levels. The emergency manager would then issue a “brown alert” over mobile phones using the Wireless Emergency Alerts system as soon as possible, but no later than 12 hours after detection.

She said the alerts could warn residents of hazards like unsafe swimming conditions, threats to drinking water, or ecological damage to local wildlife.

“The brown alert is for crappy situations that endanger public safety,” St. Germaine said in a press release. “We send out alerts for severe weather, Amber Alerts for missing kids, and notifications for other public emergencies, so why not for contaminated water? The public deserves to know when a waterway is unsafe for humans and animals.”

The bill comes as Macomb County officials have complained about raw sewage being dumped into the Red Run Drain by Oakland County from the Dequindre Interceptor line, the last time last April 3 during a heavy rainfall. The city of Center Line also dumped into the Lorraine Drain, which leads to the Red Run, during the same storm.

The county has also dumped raw sewage in the past, but county Public Works has significantly reduced the releases in recent years, office representatives contend.

“It’s not a complete fix but I think most people who live along the Red Run Drain, the Clinton River or Lake St. Clair deserved to know when raw sewage is dumped into them,” St. Germaine added in an interview.

Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller declined to comment on the bill.

County Emergency Management Director Brandon Lewis said he is aware of the proposal but he and his office have not reviewed it enough to offer in put.

“I’ve just become aware of the proposed bill, and our office is working to understand the specifics and determine how it would impact operations,” he said in a written statement.

Wireless Emergency Alerts, which are under FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, “allow authorities to send critical, specific emergency instructions of up to 360 characters, or roughly 40 words, to all cellular devices in a defined geographic area,” he said.

The alerts can be targeted and allow those receiving them to take action if necessary.

“Macomb County utilizes the WEA system during major incidents that present significant life safety risks and in any situation prescribed by law,” Lewis said.

It was used last month during the explosion and fire at RCO Engineering in the area of 12 Mile Road and Groesbeck Highway and Hayes Road in Roseville due to hazardous materials being swept by the wind.

St. Germaine, who lives along a Lake St. Clair canal, has been active in water quality issues.

“I’m not afraid to talk about what everyone else wants to flush and forget,” she said. “If we’re going to protect Michigan’s water and keep our residents safe, we need clear and timely communication to our communities.”