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

Urgent Tone at World Water Day Summit

March 25, 2016/in Water News, Water Risk/by Brett Walton

Water supply a national security issue. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue Gen. James Jones came of age in the U.S. military in a different era. As a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, his first overseas assignment was in Vietnam, when Cold War politics divided the world in two. That bilateral balance, broken apart […]

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

Water Affordability Is A New Civil Rights Movement in the United States

March 22, 2016/in United States, Water Policy & Politics, Water Rights/Access/by Brett Walton

Cost of water and sewer services is rising out of reach for hundreds of thousands of Americans. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue The cost of drinking water and sewer services in the United States, rising on average at twice the rate of inflation, is giving birth to a new civil rights movement, one based […]

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 21: Growing Calls in Congress for Water Infrastructure Funding

March 21, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Democrats are in front of a water-spending push. Flint hearings turn into a blame game. The nation’s streams are mostly in bad shape for aquatic life. February was historically hot. The Columbia River Treaty will be renegotiated, while tearing down the Klamath River dams gets a second look. A big copper mine proposed […]

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 14: California District Fined for Accounting Deception

March 14, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown A California irrigation district is fined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Central Asian countries are concerned about water supply but doing little about it. Nitrogen is decreasing in Long Island Sound, while chloride from road salts is rising. A solar power project in Nevada will lease water from an Indian tribe. 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

Water Systems Need Investment and Affordability

March 11, 2016/in Infrastructure, United States, Water Management, Water Pricing/by Brett Walton

Utilities are pulled by opposing economic and infrastructure pressures.

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 7: Colorado River Basin: Hot February Weakens Water Supply Forecast While U.S. Forest Service Rejects Grand Canyon Development

March 7, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Snow melted last month instead of accumulating in the Colorado River Basin. The U.S. Forest Service nixes a Grand Canyon development mainly because of water concerns. Flint water aid is still held up in Congress. A New York representative proposes to swell a water infrastructure fund. The U.S. embassy in Iraq issues 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

Severe Drought Tightens Pressure in Mekong River Basin

March 3, 2016/in Asia, Drought, Water News, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

River flows are historically low in Vietnam.

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 Missing Ingredient in the Obama Water Strategy

February 29, 2016/in United States, Water News, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

Science and technology are fundamental pieces, but policy change may be the hardest fix of all.

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 29: Mexico Settles Rio Grande Water Debt

February 29, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Mexico complies with bilateral treaty on sharing Rio Grande water. Congress sets the terms for Flint water aid, but a few senators delay approval. House committee discusses California drought while a Senate committee praises/condemns the Interior Department budget. Canada and the United States agree to cut phosphorus in Lake Erie. A federal appeals […]

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

Flint Scandal Is Already Changing the Water Utility Business

February 25, 2016/in Water Management, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

Utilities respond to lead contamination Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue Michigan Lt. Gov. Brian Calley spoke in Flint, on February 6, 2016, at the Flint Neighborhoods United meeting. ‘Fixing Flint is my life now,’ Calley told the group of community leaders. Click image to enlarge. By Brett Walton Circle of Blue […]

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 22: EPA Releases List of Enforcement Priorities

February 22, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Three water items are on the EPA’s list of enforcement priorities. USGS researchers study toxic algae in the Southeast. The EPA proposes a mining district Superfund site in Colorado. A House committee announces another hearing on the Flint scandal, while the CDC discusses the best way to monitor the health outcomes. An 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

Infographic: The Age of U.S. Drinking Water Pipes — From Civil War Era to Today

February 18, 2016/in Water News/by Brett Walton

Water main ages reflect the nation’s growth By Brett Walton Circle of Blue The American Water Works Association calls it the Replacement Era. An estimated 1.9 million kilometers (1.2 million miles) of distribution pipes supply Americans with drinking water. Many of them are nearing or have past retirement age. A big investment — perhaps 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