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 policy shift comes as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reportedly developing regulations that could make it easier for companies to treat and reuse produced water. JD Supra
• [New] Over 1 billion women do not have access to safely managed water services, and 380 million live in areas of high or critical water stress, a number that could rise significantly by 2050. Smart Water Magazine
• [New] Water technology company Xylem and research firm Global Water Intelligence said in a January report AI water use could rise 130% by 2050, or about 30 trillion liters. Yahoo Tech
• [New] Advanced wastewater treatment technologies are available and that the stricter standards would yield benefits (reduced cancer and cardiovascular disease risks, lower drinking water treatment costs) that outweigh costs. / USA JD Supra
• [New] Climate change could mean less water for Los Angeles, which currently gets most of its supply from Northern California and the Colorado River. PRX - Public Radio Exchange
• [New] By 2026, advances in circular water reuse, desalination, and hybridized electrolysis will allow hydrogen mining projects to minimize their water and land footprint-increasing system resilience and sustainability. Farmonaut
• [New] Hydrogen mining will especially benefit regions with abundant renewable resources, water availability, and significant distances from grid infrastructure-contexts commonly seen in emerging African mining hubs, South American agricultural frontiers, and Australian resource corridors. Farmonaut
• [New] By 2026, lithium mines could impact water resources for over 2 million acres of US farmland. Farmonaut
• [New] Cooling systems for the dense compute loads that characterize AI workloads consume millions of gallons per year at a single site, and total data center water consumption is projected to rise by approximately 170% by 2030. Verdict
• [New] Seasonal water supply forecasted volumes from the California-Nevada River Forecast Center dropped significantly after the late February snowmelt event in the Sierra Nevada, and most locations are forecasted to receive less than 70% of median April-July runoff. Drought.gov
• [New] The planned Chang'e 7 mission, launching later in 2026, will likely land at the Shackleton Crater on the south pole to survey it for water ice and other resources that might be used to support the ILRS. Scientific American
• [New] Member States will have to comply with the new standards for surface water and groundwater by 2039, with a 2033 deadline for substances subject to more stringent environmental quality standards in surface water. NautaDutilh
• [New] Amnesty International called on the United States, Israel and Iran to stop attacking energy infrastructure, warning that strikes on electricity, fuel and water facilities could cause uncontrolled fires, environmental contamination and severe civilian harm, and in some cases amount to war crimes. NCRI
• [New] Google pledged water positive operations by 2030, promising to replenish 120% of all water consumed through restoration projects in operational watersheds. life in balance
• [New] The Water Crisis Committee will finalise a Water Action Plan that will focus on short -, medium -, and long-term interventions required to ensure that water flows from the taps. / South Africa DIRCO
• [New] Without rapid reforms, water scarcity could trigger mass displacement, economic instability, and geopolitical tensions. UN warns of "Global Water Bankruptcy" as demand surges
• [New] Up to 2 billion people already lack reliable access to safe water and that current global water use is on track to exceed renewable supplies by 40% by 2030. UN warns of "Global Water Bankruptcy" as demand surges
• [New] By 2050, one-third to nearly half of the global urban population is projected to face water scarcity, with one-quarter living in India. EurekAlert!
• [New] By 2050, up to half the world's urban population will face water scarcity. EurekAlert!
• [New] Climate change could mean less water for Los Angeles, which currently gets the majority of its supply from Northern California and the Colorado River. PRX - Public Radio Exchange
• [New] Russia will shift its long-range missile and drone strikes target set to include Ukrainian logistics and water infrastructure going into Spring 2026. Critical Threats
• [New] By 2030, the world is projected to face a 40% global water deficit under the business-as-usual climate scenario. InternationalDayForests

Last updated: 22 March 2026