Environmental Complaint Hotline
(734) 222-3880
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so you can:
- Report sewage on the ground
- Report dumping in drains, ditches, ponds, lakes or streams
- Report strong sewage odor
Be prepared to give the following information:
- Location of the sewage
- Responsible party, if known
Washtenaw County is strongly committed to safety, public health and the general welfare of the community. One approach applied to support that commitment is protecting the ground water and surface water of our area. Failing septic systems are known as the number one cause of water borne illness. Did you know, based on national figures and studies performed in the area, that there is a high probability of sewage failures occurring in systems over 20 years old and in systems that have not been properly maintained?
Washtenaw County has 40 - 50,000 homes with septic systems and/or wells. The odds that many of these are failing are very high. Failing septic systems create significant water quality problems nationally, and without question, in watersheds throughout Washtenaw County. Failing septic systems are the leading causes of water borne illnesses in the United States. If left unattended, these structures can become a major source of fecal coliform in soil, ground and surface water.
To maintain life and health, humans need to drink only 2 quarts of potable (safe and drinkable) water per day. However, today’s society requires large volumes of fresh water for a wide range of purposes from personal hygiene to industrial processes. Unfortunately, most (97-98%) of the Earth's water is of limited use to humans because it is not "fresh" water and is salty.
Water is not a renewable resource. All the water that exists today is all the water there ever was or ever will be. The same water, in which early American settlers canoed and from which dinosaurs drank, is the same water being used by each and every one of us today.
Protecting our limited water supply is essential to life on our planet. Historically, the primary source of fresh water on Earth was water located in rivers and lakes. Today, most of our water comes from watersheds; regions where fresh water is collected by natural gravity paths and stored until required. Water obtained from watersheds is easily polluted. This makes pollution prevention critical to a protecting our limited supply of clean water.
You can help us protect our water supply and keep your family safe by contacting our 24-hour Complaint Hotline at (734) 222-3880.
page updated 9/29/04
