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, February 22: EPA Releases List of Enforcement Priorities

February 22, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Three water items are on the EPA’s list of enforcement priorities. USGS researchers study toxic algae in the Southeast. The EPA proposes a mining district Superfund site in Colorado. A House committee announces another hearing on the Flint scandal, while the CDC discusses the best way to monitor the health outcomes. An EPA […]

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

Infographic: The Age of U.S. Drinking Water Pipes — From Civil War Era to Today

February 18, 2016/in Water News/by Brett Walton

Water main ages reflect the nation’s growth By Brett Walton Circle of Blue The American Water Works Association calls it the Replacement Era. An estimated 1.9 million kilometers (1.2 million miles) of distribution pipes supply Americans with drinking water. Many of them are nearing or have past retirement age. A big investment — perhaps as […]

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

Lawsuits in Three States Target Groundwater Pollution under Clean Water Act

February 15, 2016/in United States, Water Law, Water News/by Brett Walton

U.S. water law confronts hydrology. Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons user Waterkeeper Alliance Coal ash ponds near the Cape Fear River, in North Carolina. Click image to enlarge. By Brett Walton Circle of Blue The Clean Water Act, the landmark environmental statue that Congress passed in 1972, does not explicitly regulate the pollution of […]

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, February 15: Obama Budget Proposal Highlights Water Technology Innovation

February 15, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown President Obama makes his budget pitch. California senator introduces (another) drought bill. The White House defers to Congress for Flint funding but does look to expand Medicaid for affected families. Spy agency chiefs testify about national security risks. Texas representatives try to exempt a proposed reservoir from Clean Water Act permitting. The research […]

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

Four Billion People Face Severe Water Scarcity

February 14, 2016/in Water & Climate, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

Cities, farming regions, and arid lands are most affected, study finds. By Brett Walton Circle of Blue Two-thirds of the planet’s population, or 4 billion people, lives at least one month per year with water scarcity, according to the most detailed water scarcity assessment to date. Previous studies — which estimated between 1.7 billion and […]

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

Strength of New EPA Lead Rule Depends on Accountability

February 10, 2016/in United States, Water News, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

Expert panel recommendations are criticized for lacking teeth. Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue After switching its water source to the Flint River in 2014, Flint officials did not follow federal law to ensure that the water did not corrode lead pipes. By Brett Walton Circle of Blue The scandal in Flint, […]

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

The Most Important Water Stories of 2015

February 9, 2016/in Water News/by Brett Walton

Climate risk and energy development, groundwater and conflict — the political awareness of water grew in 2015. Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue California’s continuing drought emergency was one of the big water stories of 2015. Click image to enlarge. By Peter Gleick Pacific Institute Brett Walton Circle of Blue Water was […]

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, February 8: First Flint Hearing in Congress Combines Outrage and Blame

February 8, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown House Oversight Committee hosts first of what will be many Flint hearings while the FBI begins investigating. Water infrastructure bills are introduced in Congress while a fight over Flint funding derails a big energy bill. The nation’s largest dam removal project, on the Klamath River, took a step forward. The U.S. Forest Service […]

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

Sitka, Alaska Still Waits on First Bulk Water Export

February 4, 2016/in United States, Water News/by Brett Walton

City favors contract extension with company that missed $US 1 million payment deadline. Photo courtesy of Flickr / Creative Commons user thedamian The Alaska Department of Natural Resources granted the city of Sitka a permit to export more than 9 billion gallons of water per year from Blue Lake. Alaska Bulk Water Inc. has 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

Federal Water Tap, February 1: Senators Propose $US 600 Million for Flint, Plus House Hearing on the Lead Crisis

February 1, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Michigan senators propose federal funds for Flint while the House Oversight Committee schedules first congressional hearing on the drinking water crisis. Wetland banking program gets federal funding. EPA publishes draft pesticide general permit. The Supreme Court is hearing another Clean Water Act case. A damaged natural gas pipeline beneath the Delaware River is […]

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

Septic Systems Contaminate Drinking Water Wells on Cape Cod

January 28, 2016/in Pollution, United States, Water News/by Brett Walton

Pharmaceuticals, flame retardants, and other organic compounds found in small concentrations in household 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

Circle of Blue Reporter Brett Walton Interviewed about U.S. Water Infrastructure

January 28, 2016/in Infrastructure, United States/by Brett Walton

Brett Walton was featured on radio program about Flint lead crisis and America’s drinking water On January 25, Circle of Blue reporter Brett Walton spoke with Minnesota Public Radio about America’s drinking water infrastructure and how the Flint lead contamination crisis comes at a time when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is updating federal lead […]

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