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

Cape Town’s Harrowing Journey to the Brink of Water Catastrophe

July 12, 2018/in Water News/by Brett Walton

Cape Town, a city of 4 million people, almost turned off its taps.

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

Regulators Will Soon Know A Lot More About Algal Toxins in U.S. Drinking Water

July 10, 2018/in Algae Blooms, Water News, Water Quality/by Brett Walton

For the next two years, water utilities are required to test for ten cyanotoxins.

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 9: Pruitt Resigns as EPA Leader

July 9, 2018/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown New leadership at the EPA. New Hampshire senators urge immediate action on PFAS. CDC official steps down from Legionella standards committee. And lastly, there are a bunch of meetings on the calendar: the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosts its third meeting on reducing Legionella risk in water systems, the 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

Federal Water Tap, July 2: Supreme Court Sends Back Florida v. Georgia Water Case

July 2, 2018/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown More investigation needed in Florida v. Georgia lawsuit. Federal authorities issue strong warning about Colorado River water supply risk. Pruitt seeks changes in EPA veto authority under Clean Water Act. The CDC links an E. coli outbreak spread through romaine lettuce to irrigation water in Arizona. The EPA grants Oklahoma authority to oversee […]

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 25: PFAS Chemicals Harmful at Lower Levels, Health Agency Says

June 25, 2018/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown PFAS study provides risk levels for four manmade chemicals. White House proposes massive reorganization of executive branch duties. EPA takes no additional steps to keep oil and chemical spills out of waterways. U.S. water withdrawals continue to decline. Trump executive order focuses on energy resources of Great Lakes and oceans. EPA outlines 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

U.S. Water Withdrawals Continue Marked Decline

June 20, 2018/in Water Management, Water News/by Brett Walton

The country is using less water, but latest USGS report shows influences of California drought on national data.

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 18: Reclamation Begins Gila River Diversion EIS

June 18, 2018/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Reclamation will review environmental effects of controversial New Mexico water project. Watchdog agency warns Reclamation about insider threats to dam security. Farm Bill passes out of Senate committee. EPA moves forward with WOTUS rule replacement. GAO says that some tribes struggle to operate and maintain water and wastewater systems built by federal grants. […]

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

Oregon Capital Battles Algal Toxins in Drinking Water

June 15, 2018/in Algae Blooms, Water News/by Brett Walton

Toxins result in ‘do not drink’ advisory for Salem, the latest U.S. city challenged by cyanobacteria.

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 11: Water Affordability Bill Introduced in Congress

June 11, 2018/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown California senator champions a water affordability bill. The EPA wants to reassess cost-benefit analysis. Defense spending authorization bill addresses firefighting chemicals and military water use. The House passes an Army Corps authorization while a committee moves forward an EPA spending bill. The TVA changes how it manages coal ash at one of its […]

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

Kentucky AG Investigates Rural Water System That Has Been Failing for Decades

June 8, 2018/in Water Management, Water News/by Brett Walton

Kentucky’s top lawyer opens inquiry into the management of the troubled Martin County Water District.

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 4: Regulators Approve Expert Panel to Guide Klamath Dam Removal

June 4, 2018/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Columbia River Treaty talks begin. More deaths in the E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce. Energy regulators approve an expert committee to guide Klamath dam removal. Federal climate change spending is undercounted, GAO finds. EPA watchdogs note progress in Atlanta’s sewer repairs, but the city still is not complying with spill permits. […]

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

In USAID Redesign, Water Is Grouped with Food and Climate

June 1, 2018/in Water News, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

Will sanitation and hygiene get lost in the organizational shuffle?

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