Brett Walton

About Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club's Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

Entries by Brett Walton

California Report Tallies Hundreds of Failing Water Systems in the State

April 13, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Hundreds more systems are at risk of not being able to meet drinking water standards. Key Takeaways The State Water Resources Control Board’s needs assessment found 326 public water systems that are consistently failing to provide drinking water that meets state and federal standards. About 90 percent of water systems that violate drinking water […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, April 12: Intelligence Agencies Deliver Warning About Climate Disruption. Again.

April 12, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The nation’s intelligence agencies identify environmental change as a driver of political and social instability. Federal agencies sign an agreement regarding a drinking water project for the Navajo Nation and other communities in the Southwest. Two key variables in the Colorado River basin runoff forecast are below normal. And lastly, budget season kicks […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Agencies Plan to Investigate Links between PFAS Exposure and Viral Illness

April 8, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Two federal health agencies are planning to investigate potential links between exposure to toxic PFAS chemicals and susceptibility to viral illnesses like Covid-19.

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, April 5: Biden Pitches $2 Trillion Infrastructure Plan with Total Lead Pipe Removal

April 5, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown One goal in Biden’s infrastructure plan is removing all lead drinking water pipes. The Supreme Court hands Georgia a victory in a lawsuit over a river basin shared with Florida. An EPA inspector general’s report shows that the agency was less likely to follow its rule-writing protocols in recent years for major regulations, […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

In Broad Strokes, Biden Infrastructure Plan Sketches a Future for Federal Water Spending

April 1, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

The Biden administration’s historic pitch to remove all lead drinking water pipes is part of a $111 billion proposal for water systems.

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, March 29: Lawmakers Introduce Barrage of Water Legislation

March 29, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Bills in Congress deal with water infrastructure funding, Camp Lejeune water contamination, workforce training, hydraulic fracturing regulation, and Western water supply. EPA Administrator Regan says he will soon appoint an environmental justice adviser. An EPA report identifies hot spots for hazardous spills into drinking water sources. The GAO says that federal agencies are […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

EPA Report Identifies Hot Spots for Hazardous Spills Into Drinking Water Sources

March 25, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

EPA report details incidents of toxic spills into groundwater, rivers, or lakes used for drinking water. The data from 2010-2019 provides the most comprehensive report to date on such spills.

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Michigan’s Rural Water Systems Confront Generations of Inadequate Investment

March 23, 2021/in Water News/by Brett Walton

A critical juncture is reached for providing water to Michigan’s rural communities.

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, March 22: USGS Study Finds Drought Increases Risk of Arsenic in Private Wells

March 22, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Senate confirms Rep. Deb Haaland as the Interior secretary. The Army Corps suspends a Clean Water Act permit for a proposed Minnesota mine. A State Department official urges China to be transparent about its use of water from the Mekong River. The EPA seeks more data on PFAS in industrial wastewater discharges. […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, March 15: Biden Signs Pandemic Relief Package with Water Funding

March 15, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The pandemic relief package includes more aid to local and tribal governments and for water bill payments. The EPA delays new rules for lead in drinking water so that the agency can review them. The Senate confirms Michael Regan as EPA administrator. An EPA webinar will feature new technology to provide drinking water […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

More Work Needed to Meet Global Water Goal, UN Report Says

March 9, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

National governments are not on track to meet ambitious, globally recognized goals to provide universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation by 2030.

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, March 8: Water Provisions Abundant in House Democrats’ Climate Bill

March 8, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown A House bill to move the country to 100 percent clean electricity by 2035 acknowledges water-energy links. A USDA report finds that farm acreage using cover crops increased by 50 percent. The GAO reviews EPA regulatory actions regarding PFAS. The EPA will review a proposed mine in Minnesota for its effects on the […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

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About Brett Walton

Entries by Brett Walton