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

Price of Water 2015: Up 6 Percent in 30 Major U.S. Cities; 41 Percent Rise Since 2010

April 22, 2015/in California, California Drought, Infrastructure, North America, Water News/by Brett Walton

As urban water use declines, utilities change business models. Graphic © Kaye LaFond / Circle of Blue Water, sewer, and stormwater prices for 30 major U.S. cities in 2015. Click for a high-resolution file. By Brett Walton Circle of Blue In the decade following World War Two, America’s cities, resurgent from an economic depression 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

Federal Water Tap, April 20: 2015 Begins with Record Heat

April 20, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The first quarter of 2015 breaks a global heat record. Lawmakers and regulators argue about water while the EPA publishes timetables for coal ash regulations. California water managers propose temporary dams to help with salinity in the state’s hydrologic choke point. “We are going to get it over the finish line…The final rule […]

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

California’s Rainless Summer Will Dry Up Drinking Water Supplies

April 13, 2015/in California, California Drought, Drought, Groundwater, North America, Water News/by Brett Walton

State and local water administrators face supply emergency that is tightening.

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 13: California Water Districts Defy Federal Order for Salmon Protection

April 13, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Bureau of Reclamation and two California water districts settle a dispute over releasing water for fish. A rural water supply project in North Dakota is reassessed. President Obama orders federal agencies to be more efficient with water. Pipeline regulator offers safety recommendations for times of flood. A handful of species in California […]

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

California Regulators Hint at Forthcoming Urban Water Restrictions

April 8, 2015/in California, California Drought/by Brett Walton

The biggest water users will be required to conserve more than the thrifty.

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 Stream, April 8: Police Crack Down on Pollution Protest in Inner Mongolia

April 8, 2015/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

The Global Rundown China quashes a protest but responds to the grievances. California does a poor job of conserving water, while its water utilities use a lot of electricity. European water companies look to India for new business opportunities as a water software business in the United States grows. Water rationing begins in Taiwan. “More […]

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

California’s Voluntary Water Conservation Plan Is Not Close to Working

April 7, 2015/in California, California Drought/by Brett Walton

Deeper drought, warmer temperatures lead to more water use in Southern California, not less. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock / Joakim Lloyd Raboff Lawns and pools dot the backyards of homes in Hollywood. Southern California water use rose in February, leading to the state’s worst conservation performance yet. Click image to enlarge. A month before Governor […]

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 Stream, April 7: Polluted Reservoir Is Alternative to Sao Paulo Rationing

April 7, 2015/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

The Global Rundown Sao Paulo’s last hope to avoid severe water restrictions is a goopy mess. A new development in the Arizona desert raises water supply questions. Canada’s glaciers are shrinking but scientists have better maps of their decline. And what to do about golf courses…in California and China. “History shows a loss of popularity […]

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 Stream, April 6: California Watershed Holds 40 Percent Less Water

April 6, 2015/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

The Global Rundown Groundwater levels fell to new lows in India’s tech hub while a state in western India opened its largest drinking water pipeline. Airborne instruments see a substantial drop in California’s snowpack, and Apple sees the value of recycled water. Nevada lawmakers might make it rain. “You’re kind of milking the snow.” — […]

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 6: Leasing Water and Land for Colorado River Basin Restoration

April 6, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Bureau of Reclamation negotiates a land and water lease in Arizona while endorsing water transfer options in California. NASA sees little water in a Sierra Nevada watershed. Tennessee gains control of its underground wastewater disposal program. Streams in the Pacific Northwest are under the microscope. California congressman introduces a pair of drought […]

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

California Orders First Mandatory Water Restrictions

April 1, 2015/in California, California Drought, North America, Water News/by Brett Walton

Abysmal snowpack ‘obliterates’ record; cities told to conserve 25 percent.

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 Stream, April 1: Hospitals in Poor Countries Lack Water, Sanitation, and Soap

April 1, 2015/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

The Global Rundown Hospitals fail to meet international water and sanitation standards. A city reliant on groundwater sees levels drop while illegal sand mining threatens water supplies in southern India. Desalination is more attractive for a gold mine proposed in Mexico after a water-price hike. Protestors in Baltimore oppose a plan to shut off 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

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About Brett Walton

Entries by Brett Walton