State Rep. Ron Robinson (R-Utica) is in strong support of the “Brown Alert,” an alert that keeps Michigan families informed when local waterways are contaminated with harmful levels of E. coli or raw sewage.

House Bill 4427, which Robinson co-sponsored, would require local drain or public works commissioners to report water contamination to emergency managers, who would then issue public alerts within 12 hours using the federal Wireless Emergency Alerts system.

This plan is the first step towards addressing the ongoing issue of contaminated sewage from Oakland County being dumped into Macomb County waterways and without warning to the community.

“That situation puts communities at risk and leaves many residents unaware of the potential danger,” said Robinson. “Clean water is one of Michigan’s most valuable resources. We need to do everything we can to ensure people are informed when something threatens it.”

The proposed alert system could be used to warn residents of unsafe swimming conditions, risks to drinking water, or environmental harm to wildlife and ecosystems.

“This plan is about transparency and public safety,” said Robinson. “People need to know when contamination occurs so they can protect themselves and their families. No one should learn about a serious public health threat days after the fact.”