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

Federal Water Tap, November 6: Government Report Highlights Human Causes of Climate Change

November 6, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown U.S. government report warns that what we don’t know about climate change is perhaps more worrisome than what we do. Dam regulators make changes to the federal licensing process. The EPA spotlights innovative design and financing of sewer, septic system, and stormwater projects that use federal loans. The U.S. Geological Survey again 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

Philadelphia Water Rate Experiment Aims to Help Struggling Residents Pay Their Bills

November 1, 2017/in Water News, Water Pricing/by Brett Walton

Many applications, and some pain, so far for country’s first income-based water rate.

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 30: Sen. Booker Introduces Environmental Justice Bill

October 30, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The New Jersey Democrat’s bill addresses disproportionate burdens of pollution. EPA and Interior release reports on laws and agency actions that impede energy development. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee starts the groundwork for a new water infrastructure bill. President Trump says an aged dike in Florida should be repaired more quickly. 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

NASA Ends Trailblazing Satellite Mission that Revealed Global Groundwater Trends

October 28, 2017/in Groundwater, Water News/by Brett Walton

Due to old age and battery failure, NASA terminates the GRACE satellite mission. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue The unexpectedly long life of a pair of pioneering satellites that deepened scientific understanding of society’s influence on water and land is over. NASA and its project partners decided to end the GRACE satellite mission this […]

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

Cape Town Rations Water Before Reservoirs Hit Zero

October 26, 2017/in Africa, South Africa, Water Management, Water News/by Brett Walton

No end to water crisis in South Africa’s second largest city. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue It’s called Day Zero, the day when the six main reservoirs that supply Cape Town will be drained of water. For Cape Town and the Western Cape province of South Africa, which enter the dry season after three […]

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 23: Chemical Contamination and Nutrient Trading Assessed in Pair of GAO Reports

October 23, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The GAO finds little activity in state nutrient trading markets and catalogues the military’s response to firefighting chemicals in drinking water. Security agencies warn energy and water utilities about a hacking campaign that began in May. Developers file a permit for a 2,000-megawatt pumped storage hydropower project in northern Arizona. The U.S. Geological […]

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 Hepatitis Outbreak Has Killed 19 People

October 20, 2017/in Sanitation/Health, Water News/by Brett Walton

State health emergency declared in response to largest U.S. hepatitis A outbreak in more than two decades.

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

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

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About Brett Walton

Entries by Brett Walton