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

Risks to Groundwater in India’s Solar Irrigation Pump Expansion

August 25, 2019/in Groundwater, India, Water News/by Brett Walton

Cheap solar power, widely available, could worsen India’s already depleted aquifers.

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

Report: Updated Laws and Collaboration Needed to Control Legionnaires’ Disease, America’s Deadliest Waterborne Illness

August 21, 2019/in Water News, Water Quality/by Brett Walton

A National Academies report has identified deficiencies in plumbing and building codes, policies, and research to prevent the spread of Legionella.

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, August 19: First Mandatory Colorado River Basin Cutbacks

August 19, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown A Bureau of Reclamation reservoir forecast triggers the first mandatory cutbacks in Colorado River water use for Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico. EPA scientists who objected to a Pebble Mine environmental review are overruled by political appointees. The USGS evaluates how concentrated animal feeding operations in eastern North Carolina affect water quality. A 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

The Next Urban Water Crisis? Inadequate Data Clouds the Forecast

August 15, 2019/in Water Management, Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

What is the next center of population and commerce to be roiled by a severely constricted water supply?

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, August 12: EPA Proposes Limiting Use of Clean Water Act to Review Fossil Fuel Infrastructure

August 12, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown EPA aims to change Clean Water Act provisions that allow states to grant water quality permits. Federal watchdog agency will investigate the management of Lake Ontario water levels, which reached record highs this summer and flooded lakeshore properties. The EPA’s internal watchdog finds that the agency exceeded the deregulatory targets in a 2017 […]

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

Amid Rising Water Rates, Massachusetts Cities Have Inequitable Affordability Policies, Report Finds

August 8, 2019/in Water News/by Brett Walton

Policies favor homeowners, according to Northeastern University study.

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, August 5: EPA Revokes Pebble Mine Veto

August 5, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The EPA, after criticizing an Army Corps environmental analysis, withdraws its veto of a controversial Alaska mine. Republican senators introduce a bill to limit the scope of the Clean Water Act. An upcoming draft revision of lead-in-drinking-water rules might ban partial lead service line replacements. Hurricane Barry reduces the size of the Gulf […]

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 29: Defense Department Announces PFAS Task Force

July 29, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The new defense secretary’s initial action is to establish a task force to address toxic PFAS chemicals. Congress acts on a Florida harmful algal bloom bill and an energy-water bill, while representatives introduce legislation on water infrastructure investment, the Great Lakes, fracking chemicals, and sewage pollution on the U.S.-Mexico border. The Justice Department […]

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

U.S. Groundwater Wells Race Towards Bottom

July 26, 2019/in Groundwater, Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Well depths are increasing across the United States, 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 22: Two Major Water Regulations Await White House Approval

July 22, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown A new Waters of the United States rule gets closer to completion, as do revised regulations for lead and copper in drinking water. The Army Corps will study flood-prevention in the back bays of Miami-Dade County. Congressional committees discuss corporate knowledge of PFAS toxicity, working waterfronts, and the costs of climate change. 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

Plumbing Experts Question California’s Post-Fire Water Testing Guidance

June 24, 2019/in Water News, Water Quality/by Brett Walton

Government agencies still defining their roles in post-fire water contamination.

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 24: Senate Committee Approves PFAS Package

June 24, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown PFAS package moves along in the Senate. The EPA inspector general opens investigation of a water permit issued for a Minnesota copper-nickel mine, while the VA’s watchdog criticizes Legionella management at a California hospital. USAID reports on its water and sanitation programs. A USDA agency finds that farmers are confused about water testing […]

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