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

With Alternate Water Sources, Some Paradise Businesses Reopen

March 6, 2019/in Water News/by Brett Walton

County health department requires trucked-in water for restaurants.

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

Scenes From Paradise, Four Months After the Camp Fire

March 6, 2019/in Water News/by Brett Walton

The Camp Fire was the most destructive in California’s history. Recovery will take years.

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

‘It Will Probably Resemble a Military Operation’: Q&A with Andrew Whelton on Recovery of Paradise Water System

March 6, 2019/in Water News/by Brett Walton

Andrew Whelton leads a Purdue University research team that is advising the town’s water utility.

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 4: EPA Misses Lead and Copper Rule Deadline

March 4, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Another delay in updating federal rules for lead and copper in drinking water. The Senate confirms Andrew Wheeler as EPA administrator. House Democrats propose to increase corporate taxes to raise up to $35 billion for water infrastructure. A big public lands package clears both chambers of Congress. Transportation regulators finalize rules requiring oil […]

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, March 1: Tidal Flooding Cuts Billions of Dollars from U.S. Property Values

March 1, 2019/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

The Global Rundown Rising seas and more frequent floods during high tide are reducing home values along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The leader of Canada’s Assembly of First Nations calls for investment in water infrastructure and new national laws to secure safe water for indigenous communities. After a series of storms, California’s snowpack […]

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, February 28: Toledo Voters Approve Lake Erie Bill of Rights

February 28, 2019/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

The Global Rundown A Toledo ballot measure, which was approved by a large margin, adds to the growing recognition of the legal rights of nature. Michigan officials release results of statewide drinking water testing for PFAS chemicals. Los Angeles aims to recycle 100 percent of its wastewater by 2035. An indigenous community in Saskatchewan 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

The Stream, February 27: Severe Flooding Prompts Evacuation Order for More Than Two Dozen Northern California Communities

February 27, 2019/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

The Global Rundown The rising Russian River, swollen with rain, prompts evacuations north of San Francisco. Pharmaceutical concentrations in rivers and lakes are increasing worldwide. More than half of wastewater treatment plants in South Africa are in poor or critical condition. A bill in the Idaho Senate that would address excessive groundwater pumping fails to […]

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, February 26: Mexico Greenlights Exploratory Fracking Wells

February 26, 2019/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

The Global Rundown Mexican regulators allow the national oil company to drill exploratory fracking wells for natural gas. A New Mexico dairy faces financial ruin following PFAS contamination of its herd. Malaysia’s national water agency considers a water-efficiency labeling law. The world’s biggest groundwater deficit is in northern India, researchers find. Google asks South Carolina […]

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 25: CDC Selects PFAS Exposure Study Sites

February 25, 2019/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Eight communities near military bases will be part of the CDC’s PFAS exposure assessment. The Supreme Court decides to hear a case on whether the Clean Water Act extends to connected groundwater. The EPA prohibits healthcare facilities and retailers from flushing hazardous pharmaceutical waste down the drain. Two House representatives ask Senate leadership […]

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

HotSpots H2O: Humanitarian and Political Crisis Roils Venezuela

February 25, 2019/in HotSpots H2O, WEF/by Brett Walton

Some 3.4 million Venezuelans have fled their country amid a political crisis that is crippling healthcare service, nutrition, and sanitation in the region.

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, February 22: Indian Farmers Embark on 200-Kilometer Protest March

February 22, 2019/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

The Global Rundown Farmers in the Indian state of Maharashtra are marching 200 kilometers to Mumbai to protest a huge canal project and rally for financial aid. Federal officials suspend a key permit for a 28,000-home development in southern Arizona amid a lawsuit over the project’s effect on groundwater and desert wetlands. Mining runoff pollutes […]

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, February 21: Perth Told To Expect Big Cut in Groundwater Allocation

February 21, 2019/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

The Global Rundown Regulators tell the utility serving Australia’s fourth-largest city that it will be allowed to pump less groundwater. The U.S. Supreme Court, in a decision with far-reaching consequences, will consider whether the Clean Water Act applies to certain discharges to groundwater. Arizona lawmakers warn that not all their drought plan agreements will be […]

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