Global Scans · Clean Water and Sanitation · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 6. Ensure availability of water and sanitation for all.

• [New] The EPA proposes six control measure options that applicable water systems could select and implement to reduce PFOA and PFOS concentrations and provide information for consumers to decrease their exposure to PFAS. Federal Register
• [New] To achieve compliance with the PFOA and PFOS MCLs, the EPA anticipates that some water systems will seek to restructure, such as entering into water system partnerships or physically consolidating or connecting with another nearby water system. Federal Register
• [New] The EPA evaluated a number of other considerations that, when combined with the previously discussed capital improvement, workforce challenges, and financial hardship, are likely to significantly influence water systems' ability to comply with the MCLs by 2029. Federal Register
• [New] Amazon says it already uses recycled water for cooling at 24 data centers globally and plans to expand water recycling to more than 120 U.S. locations in states and counties where it operates by 2030, preserving more than 530 million gallons of drinking-water supply annually. Tank Transport
• [New] Oracle says its New Mexico Project Jupiter campus will not use the local public drinking-water system for cooling, will rely on non-potable industrial well water under contract, and will use direct-to-chip, closed-loop, non-evaporative cooling. Tank Transport
• [New] Total Texas data-center water use could climb to roughly 3% to 5% of statewide demand under lower-capacity futures and 5% to 9% under high-capacity futures by 2030 to 2040. Tank Transport
• [New] If 2024 water-use intensity persists, U.S. data centers could require 697 million to 1.451 billion gallons per day of new water capacity by 2030, with a water-capacity valuation on the order of $10 billion to $58 billion. Tank Transport
• [New] For India and Indonesia, the monsoon season is fundamental to food security, water availability, and ecological stability, and the super El Nino may present a significant disruption. ISCIENCES
• [New] Rainwater harvesting, the use of grey water in homes and an urgent campaign to reduce water usage across society are vital to prevent water shortages of 5bn liters a day by 2055. The Guardian
• [New] The most recent UK Climate Projections confirm that we can expect increases to extreme coastal water levels as a result of the increase in mean sea level, and that there is potential for changes in the severity of future storm surge events. RMetS
• [New] Global water demand is projected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030 if current trends continue, creating an urgent imperative for conservation measures. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Asia accounts for over 60% of the world's irrigated land, yet suffers from low water use efficiency, creating a vast opportunity for smart technology adoption. Market Data Forecast
• [New] The World Economic Forum continues ranking water crises among the most severe long-term global risks. Kalkine
• [New] The alert, Iranian-Affiliated Cyber Actors Exploit Programmable Logic Controllers, describes a campaign causing operational disruptions in sectors like water, wastewater, and energy. BriefGlance
• [New] For the Middle East, a lingering El Nino threatens domestic water supply, with the potential for drought-related disputes to emerge in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. ORF Middle East
• [New] By 2026, sustainability will be a core decision parameter: carbon footprint, water use, waste, raw-material sourcing, supplier transparency, and life-cycle metrics. International Multispeciality Journal of Health
• [New] The City of St. Louis Water Division has proposed significant rate increases over the next six years, including 18% hikes in 2026 and 2027, to address aging infrastructure and staffing shortages. Yahoo News
• [New] The lakes, rivers and other waterways that will see more pollution as a result of the EPA's proposal are often sources of drinking water that tens of millions of people rely on. Boston 25 News
• [New] Under Water for the Planet, the Oman Climate Resilient Flood Protection Dams Program is safeguarding about 670,000 people from flood risk. World Bank Live
• [New] Increased autumn rainfall in China's southern regions as a result of El Nino raises the risk of disruption to the harvest of late-season rice, while warmer-than-usual winter conditions could reduce available water supplies for 2027's spring ploughing. ST

Last updated: 24 May 2026