If you live outside a city or village and would like to report a potential human health hazard, please contact us at (608) 742-9227 then press 6. Follow up will be made by Public Health Department staff to determine whether the issue falls under the human health hazard definition. If you live within a city or village please contact your city or village clerk.
What is a human health hazard?
According to the Columbia County Human Health Hazard Ordinance, a human health hazard is any action, act, occupation, condition, or use of property which can substantially injure or endanger the comfort, health, repose, or safety of the public.
A human health hazard can be:
- Air pollution - excessive smoke, acids, fumes, gases, or other atmosphere pollutants.
- Noxious odors - any negligent use of property or substance which emits or causes any foul, offensive, noxious, or disagreeable odor. Exclusive to those odors common to ordinary and approved agricultural practices.
- Unburied carcasses - any animal or fowl not intended for human consumption or food which are not buried or otherwise properly disposed of within a reasonable time period.
- Manure - excessive accumulations of body wastes from any domestic animal or fowl that are handled, stored, or disposed of in any manner that creates a human health hazard. Exclusive to those wastes common to ordinary and approved agricultural practices.
- Toxic and hazardous materials - any chemical or biological material that is stored or disposed of in such quantity or manner that it is, or has the potential to create a human health hazard.
- Open dumps – any unauthorized disposal of any waste materials on private or public lands in a manner not in compliance with the requirements of Wisconsin State Statutes.
- Waste water – the presence of waste water or sewage effluent from buildings seeping onto the ground surface or backing up into buildings and/or running unto a surface body of water.
- Holes or openings – any hole or opening caused by an improperly abandoned cistern, septic system, well, foundation, mine shaft, or tunnel.
- Dilapidated buildings – all buildings or structures so old, dilapidated, neglected, or out of repair as to be dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary, or otherwise unfit for use and for which no appropriate precautions have been taken to prevent admittance.
- Food and breeding places for vermin, insects, etc. – accumulations of decayed animal or vegetable matter, trash, rubbish, garbage, rotting timber, beddings, packing materials, scrap metal, abandoned structures, animal and human fecal matter or any other substance or condition which promotes flies, mosquitos, lice, disease carrying insects, rats, or other vermin or their reproduction and including areas in which pests can live, nest, or seek shelter.
- Animal welfare – intentional abuse or prolonged confinement of any domestic or wild animal or fowl such that a decline in the health or well being of the animal occurs.
- Unhealthy or unsanitary conditions – any condition or situation which renders a structure or any part of a structure unsanitary, unhealthy, or unfit for human habitation, occupation, or use.