Entries by Brett Walton

After Hurricanes, Pollution Hazards for Private Water Wells in the Southeast

Floodwaters from Florence and Michael introduce bacteria and contaminants into wells.

Federal Water Tap, October 29: EPA Waits for Court Extension on Drinking Water Regulation

The Rundown EPA waits for court decision on agency’s request for more time to develop regulations for perchlorate in drinking water. President Trump signs a big water infrastructure bill. The USGS coordinates groundwater mapping in the Mississippi alluvial aquifer, important for farm irrigation. The Defense Department’s environmental research program announces funding for PFAS remediation. And […]

Tough Water Decisions in 2018 Election Initiatives

Voters will decide on infrastructure spending, oil and gas development, and salmon habitat protection.

Federal Water Tap, October 22: Trump Memo Aims To Deliver More Water To California Farms

The Rundown Most immediate effect of the Trump memo will be to quicken environmental reviews. Operation and maintenance costs for water systems are rising, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Federal agencies publish timetables for regulatory actions. An Ohio lawmaker introduces a bill to require the EPA to set a drinking water standard for microcystin. […]

U.N. Climate Report: Water Extremes, Unevenly Distributed, Worsen With More Heat

More floods and droughts in a warmer world. But certain regions will be worse off than others.

Federal Water Tap, October 15: Senate Passes Water Infrastructure Bill

The Rundown Big water infrastructure package authorizes billions of dollars for water systems. The CDC asks to extend a national database for harmful algal bloom illnesses. A standards-setting agency seeks information about potential plumbing code revisions that reflect changes in how water is used in buildings. And lastly, the number of Legionnaires’ disease cases so […]

Deadly Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreaks Persist in the U.S.

The most acute U.S. water contamination health risk defies control.

Federal Water Tap, October 8: EPA Starts Looking for New Drinking Water Contaminants to Monitor

The Rundown EPA wants to know which unregulated contaminants utilities should monitor. An FAA reauthorization bill aims to reduce use of PFAS chemicals at commercial airports. Republican senators object to states using water quality permits to block fossil fuel projects. Congress advances water-related bills. And lastly, Congress will weigh a new trade deal with Canada […]

Infographic: Household Wells in the United States

Thirteen percent of Americans, some 42 million people, use a household well for their water supply.

Federal Water Tap, October 1: Sixth Circuit Rulings Muddle Question of Clean Water Act Authority over Groundwater

The Rundown Two appeals court decisions contradict what other circuits concluded about groundwater and the Clean Water Act. Federal agency officials tell a Senate committee that PFAS drinking water regulations will take years to finalize, if the agency decides to regulate them. Bill introduced in Congress would provide health benefits to veterans sickened by PFAS […]

In Senate PFAS Hearing, Government Officials Say Regulatory Response Will Take Years

Officials from multiple federal agencies testified at a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing.

Michigan’s Groundwater Emergency

Groundwater in Michigan is “compromised and deteriorated.”