House Bill 4427 Would Establish Brown Alerts For Escherichia coli Contamination

H.B. 4427 would require drain commissioners, public works commissioners, and water resources commissioners of counties notify their emergency management coordinators when any of the waters in that county contain a dangerous level of E. coli (Escherichia coli) or sewage.  That emergency management coordinator must then issue a 'brown alert' within 12 hours of receiving notice.

HB 4427 does not cover any other deadly microorganism, such as the (ground dwelling) Legionella pneumophila which caused the Legionnaire's disease outbreak during the Flint water crisis:

https://michiganadvance.com/2025/09/11/michigan-lawmakers-aim-to-notify-public-of-e-coli-contamination-with-brown-alert-bill/

https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4427

Michigan lawmakers aim to notify public of E. coli contamination with “brown alert” bill
By Kyle Davidson - September 11, 2025

A Macomb County lawmaker has gathered support from both sides of the aisle for her plan to protect people from raw sewage in waterways through a proposed system warning about high levels of E. coli.

Rep. Alicia St. Germaine’s (R-Harrison Township), told the House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee that House Bill 4427 would require counties to issue a “brown alert” if dangerous levels of sewage or E. coli are detected in their waters.

St. Germaine explained that the bill was prompted by the release of more than a million gallons of raw sewage into the Red Run Drain, a small river which was converted into a drain in the 1920s and 1960s. The drain flows into the Clinton River and out into Lake St. Clair.

“Needless to say, it’s a lot of raw sewage, and the residents that live along those waterways never knew,” St. Germain said.

E. coli is a type of bacteria found in human and animal intestines, which the state uses as an indicator of water quality. E. coli in waterways can indicate that water is contaminated with feces.

While E. coli itself can cause illness including stomach pain and vomiting, the bacteria is also used as an indicator for other types of harmful organisms which cause diarrhea, giardia, hepatitis or cholera.

The county’s drain commissioner, public works commissioner, water resources commissioner or their designee would be responsible for determining if dangerous levels of contamination are detected, and would be required to inform the county’s health department of the hazard as soon as practical, and within 12 hours of their determination.

Under a substitute version of the bill adopted by the committee, the County’s health department would also be responsible for issuing an alert to residents as soon as possible, with requirements to issue the alert within 12 hours.

The alert would be sent directly to residents’ phones and would list the location of the contamination and the health risks of exposure.

The bill was also crafted with input from Macomb County Public Works Commissioner and former GOP state Rep. Candice Miller, St. Germaine told committee members.

The committee did not take a vote to refer the bill to the House floor for further action, however, committee chair David Martin (R-Davison) said work was being done to refine the policy, and that there was more to come.