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] Expenditure on industrial water and wastewater infrastructure is projected to rise from $2.87 billion in 2024 to $4.65 billion by 2030. itaadmin
• [New] A proposed water treatment plan could send millions of gallons of treated wastewater from Jacksonville into North Florida rivers - raising both hope and concern among residents, environmental advocates and water management leaders. WJXT
• [New] Depending on how fast the AI industry expands, U.S. data centers could annually consume as much water as 10 million Americans and emit as much carbon dioxide as 10 million cars. Inside Climate News
• [New] Wisconsin's $116.3 billion agriculture industry could face $385 million in annual climate-related losses based on the effect of projected heat on crop growth, but diversifying crops and other water management strategies could help. Urban Milwaukee
• [New] Texas will need approximately $174 billion in water infrastructure investment through 2080, more than double the cost of the previous plan. Texas Policy Research
• [New] Within 25 years, about 46% of global GDP could come from parts of the world with the highest water risk, compared to 10% today. Fortune
• [New] By 2040, countries across the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and parts of Southern Europe are expected to face extreme water stress. Daily Sabah
• [New] By 2050, around 6 billion people may face insufficient access to clean water. Daily Sabah
• [New] Expectations are strongest in regions facing acute water stress: Agreement is highest in Africa and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, where water risks are more immediate and visible in daily life. GlobeScan | Know your world. Lead the future.
• [New] If finalized, the EPA's plan could expand research into how common microplastics and medications are in water, how they may harm human health, ways to remove them, and new rules for water systems. Gastroenterology Advisor
• [New] NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER, will use its instruments to sniff out subsurface water, then use a drill to confirm its suspicions. Scientific American
• [New] Tucson, Arizona's city council proposes new large data center zoning that would establish a rigorous review process and require developers to disclose projected water and energy use. Canary Media
• [New] Fourteen of the most at-risk countries are in the Middle East, heavily dependent on groundwater and costly desalination, with water scarcity threatening economic growth, food production, energy supply and migration patterns. Daily Sabah
• [New] Drinking water infrastructure and other needs will require $2.1 to $2.4 trillion over the next 25 years. American Water Works Association
• [New] More than $2.8 million in federally-funded grants will go to 122 public water systems in 58 counties to support critical improvements. The Ohio Society of CPAs
• [New] The EPA predicts drinking water contaminated with the pesticide thiophanate-methyl can cause cancer in up to four in 10,000 people exposed. Final Call News
• [New] Water consumption for cooling AI data centers is predicted to double or even quadruple by 2028 compared to 2023. IEEE Spectrum
• [New] Direct water consumption in hyperscale data centers alone is expected to consume 16 billion to 33 billion gallons annually by 2028. / USA Brookings
• [New] Non-potable recycled water represents an opportunity for datacenters but we need Sydney Water to make recycled water available at an affordable price. The Guardian

Last updated: 26 April 2026