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

EPA Cleanup Plan for Houston Superfund Site Opposed by Industry

October 17, 2017/in Water News, Water Quality/by Brett Walton

The San Jacinto waste pits were flooded during Hurricane Harvey. EPA and industry differ on how to minimize contaminant risk. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue In a decision cheered by environmental and public health groups, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized a $115 million cleanup plan for the San Jacinto waste pits, one of […]

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, October 16: EPA Approves Cleanup Plan for Flooded Houston Superfund Site

October 16, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The $115 million plan involves excavating sediment contaminated by dioxin, a move with broad support but opposed by at least one of the companies that would pay for the cleanup. The House passes a $36.5 billion hurricane, fire, and flood aid package. The EPA warns Puerto Ricans not to drink water from a […]

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 Mobile Home Park Residents Face Barriers to Clean Water

October 13, 2017/in Water News, Water Quality/by Brett Walton

Study finds more frequent service cuts and dirtier water in trailer parks. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue Many of the more than one million Californians who live in mobile home parks drink water that is more polluted and more likely to be cut off than residents who get water from other municipal utilities, according […]

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, October 9: Where Are the Lead Pipes? Watchdog Agency Says EPA Should Track

October 9, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The GAO recommends three ways to improve federal oversight of lead drinking water pipes. The EPA publishes a draft four-year agency plan. Arizona’s senators introduce an Indian water rights settlement. The Fish and Wildlife Service rejects a petition to list more than two dozen species as threatened or endangered. The U.S. government invests […]

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

Islamic State Occupation Wrecks Iraq Environment and Infrastructure

October 3, 2017/in Conflict & Cooperation, Water News/by Brett Walton

UNEP report provides initial tally of contaminated sites and destroyed water systems.

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, October 2: U.S., Mexico Sign Colorado River Agreement

October 2, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Neighbors once again unite over the Colorado River. Millions in Puerto Rico are still without drinking water or wastewater service. The EPA finds cancer chemical in water near Superfund site flooded by Hurricane Harvey. A House hearing reveals political divisions in water infrastructure funding debate. In moving the Office of Environmental Justice, 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

When the Sewer Pipe Breaks, Watch Out For What Comes Next

September 28, 2017/in Infrastructure, Water Management, Water News/by Brett Walton

Toxic emissions from common pipe repair are a health risk, researchers say. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue Just before lunch on September 21, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department responded to a report of three dozen ill students at Zamorano Fine Arts Academy, an elementary school in the Bay Terraces neighborhood. The students were 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

Federal Water Tap, September 25: Hurricanes Knock Out Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico Water Systems

September 25, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Hurricanes Irma and Maria smack the U.S. Virgin Islands while Maria inundates Puerto Rico. A Defense Department spending bill includes a health study for those exposed to firefighting chemicals in drinking water. The EPA schedules two hearings in Alaska on reopening the coveted Pebble copper deposit for mining. An inspector general report calls […]

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

Diseases of Poverty Identified in Alabama County Burdened by Poor Sanitation

September 19, 2017/in Water News, Water Quality/by Brett Walton

Study finds “shocking” incidence of parasite infections in Lowndes County.

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, September 18: EPA Reviews Water Pollution Rules for Fossil Fuel Power Plants

September 18, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The EPA postpones two power plant water pollution rules and suspends enforcement of water pollution rules for power plants in Florida while they restore electricity after Hurricane Irma. The EPA also reconsiders Obama-era rules on coal waste disposal. The House passes a budget package that includes a six percent cut to 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

Michigan Lawmakers Regroup in Human Right to Water Effort

September 14, 2017/in Water News, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

Republican support will be needed for the Democratic proposal. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue Motivated by the Flint lead scandal and Detroit water shutoffs — events that heightened public and political attention to water policy — lawmakers who represent those cities in the Michigan Legislature have revived their effort to pass a law recognizing […]

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

Timeline: California Human Right to Water

September 13, 2017/in Water News/by Brett Walton

Five years ago, on September 25, 2012, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law declaring a right “to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes.” The law resulted in substantial changes in policy and practice. Click the arrows on the interactive timeline to explore legal and political milestones as […]

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