General nuisance complaints/concerns involve activities or conditions which may pose a human health hazard if left unaddressed. Examples of nuisance complaints may include garbage, manure odor, rodents, insects, deer carcasses, and unburied livestock“Human health hazard” means a substance, activity or condition that is known to have the potential to cause acute or chronic illness, to endanger life, to generate or spread infectious diseases, or otherwise cause injury to the health of the public.

It is important to recognize that there is a difference between a human health hazard and a nuisance. For example, a manure odor is more likely to be a nuisance complaint than a human health hazard, but can quickly turn to a human health hazard is the manure odor is coming from a manure pile located in close proximity to your well. Careful evaluation of the circumstances must be made.

For more information on a variety of human health hazards, go to www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/eh/HlthHaz/index.htm