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

Federal Water Tap, August 7: DHS Waives Environmental Review of San Diego Border Wall Construction

August 7, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The waiver applies to a 15-mile section inland from the Pacific Ocean. The EPA adds seven sites, including a town whose drinking water was tainted by nonstick compounds, to the Superfund list. The annual summer Gulf of Mexico dead zone is the largest on record. Federal scientists are collecting water samples in a […]

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

UN Report Sets New Baseline for Drinking Water and Sanitation | PODCAST |

August 3, 2017/in Water News/by Brett Walton

Brett WaltonBrett 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 […]

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, July 31: Regulators Greenlight Florida Nuclear Plant Wastewater Injection

July 31, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Nuclear regulators say that fears of groundwater contamination in South Florida are misplaced. The BLM moves to repeal a rule, already invalidated by a federal judge, that addresses well construction, handling of chemicals, and data reporting for fracked wells on public lands. The EPA, meanwhile, officially moved to revoke an Obama administration definition […]

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

Water Bill Assistance for the Poor Hindered by State Laws

July 24, 2017/in Water Management, Water News, Water Pricing/by Brett Walton

Restrictions on utilities result in weak aid programs, study finds.

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, July 24: EPA Invites Dozen Water Projects to Apply for New Infrastructure Loan Program

July 24, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The infrastructure projects are big and small, mostly public but some private. The Senate votes today to confirm a California farm lobbyist as second in command at the Interior Department. An inspector general report concludes that the EPA needs to improve its oversight of state drinking water programs. Continuing its reversal of 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

Federal Water Tap, July 17: House Budget Committee Plans 6.5 Percent EPA Cut

July 17, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown In addition to the budget bill, the House passes controversial California water legislation while the Senate considers a big energy bill with water-related provisions. A Defense Department spending bill includes a human health study for firefighting chemicals in drinking water. Federal wildlife agencies find zero invasive carp near Lake Michigan during a two-week […]

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

Saving Water Lowered Rates in Two Arizona Cities

July 14, 2017/in Water Management, Water News/by Brett Walton

Breakthrough research makes financial case for municipal water conservation. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue “Why conserve if our rates are going to go up?” It’s a question that Candice Rupprecht, water conservation manager for the city of Tucson, Arizona, hears frequently at community meetings. Residents are frustrated by what they see as an unjust […]

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

SDG Report: Billions Lack Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation at Home

July 12, 2017/in Water News, Water Quality/by Brett Walton

Report is first to track higher standards set by the UN’s sustainable development goals. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue Some 2.1 billion people lack water at home that is free of bacterial contamination and is available when needed, according to a World Health Organization/UNICEF report that sets a baseline against which the world will […]

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, July 10: Defense Spending Bill Includes Drinking Water Amendments

July 10, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown House representatives voice concerns in defense bill over chemical contamination of drinking water, Yemen’s water security, and climate change. Water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer declined at a slower pace in the most recent U.S. Geological Survey assessment. Flint gets $US 15 million to evaluate children for lead exposure. The EPA finalized 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

UN Prepares First Evaluation of Higher Standard for Water and Sanitation

July 6, 2017/in Drinking Water, Water News, Water Quality/by Brett Walton

Clean water for all, a sustainable development goal, will be much harder to achieve than past targets. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue When they adopted, in September 2015, a new global agenda for eliminating poverty, the member countries of the United Nations raised the bar for drinking water and sanitation. The sustainable development goals, […]

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, July 3: EPA, Army Corps Move to Repeal Clean Water Rule

July 3, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Revoking the Clean Water Rule is the first step in a two-stage process to replace the Obama-era legal definition. A House budget subcommittee keeps a rural water infrastructure grant program mostly intact. Wildlife agencies clear a path for construction of a highly controversial pair of water supply tunnels in California. President Trump nominates […]

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, June 26: EPA Investigates Chemours’ Chemical Management

June 26, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Regulators assess whether the chemical company complied with a federal permit for handling a nonstick compound that has been found in drinking water in southeastern North Carolina. The EPA and local officials agree to close seven sewage cesspools on the Big Island of Hawaii. NOAA posts river forecast data online. The National Toxicology […]

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