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] Rising global temperatures are causing glaciers to melt rapidly, reshaping ecosystems, threatening food and water security and increasing disaster risks. United Nations Western Europe
• [New] Smart water treatment systems will become a baseline expectation by 2026. Water Treatment Supply
• [New] Major crops face significant yield risks due to water scarcity, with projected losses of 7 to 8.1% for soybean, 9 to 12% for wheat, and 18.1 to 19.4% for rice by the end of the 21st century. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Freshwater demand for food production is expected to double by 2050, supporting a population of 10 billion people, but its availability remains uncertain due to rising concerns about water scarcity and socio-economic impacts. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Threats to the Colorado River's water supply are now so severe that they pose a significant risk to the water supply for millions. My Patriot Supply
• [New] Central Asian countries reached a 2026 water use and reservoir operation agreement during the 91st Interstate Commission for Water Coordination meeting in Ashgabat. Uzbek.Review is a publication by EUROUZ.eu
• [New] By 2026, water scarcity will develop from a developmental concern to a matter of national security, which may intensify international disputes over the Tigris-Euphrates basins as nations prioritise upstream resource control, harming their neighbours. SpecialEurasia
• [New] In 2026, hydration will go beyond water. Speciality Food Magazine
• [New] Aeroponics systems: Can reduce nut crop water use by up to 90% in 2026, but adoption across nut types will depend on rapid R&D advances. Farmonaut
• [New] Settlement proceeds from 3M and DuPont began flowing to utilities and water systems in summer 2025, enabling them to begin deploying capital toward treatment infrastructure more effectively in 2026. Capstone DC
• [New] Water-intensive textile clusters in South Asia have come under increasing scrutiny for their freshwater use and pollution, creating supply-chain risks for global apparel brands. Mint
• [New] Looking to the supply outlook for 2026, vegetable production is anticipated to sit below the first half of 2025 as reduced water storages and significantly higher irrigation costs limit production potential. Australian Rural & Regional News
• [New] Melbourne and major regional cities could be placed on water restrictions by the end of 2026. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] There was an increased likelihood of urban water restrictions across most of Victoria in 2026, which would mean some metropolitan areas would have their water usage tightened for the first time since the Millennium Drought in the early 2000s. Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Last updated: 11 January 2026