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] 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
• [New] Through the Water Forward Initiative, ADB will target reaching 100 million people in developing economies in Asia and the Pacific by 2030 with safe water, sanitation, irrigation, and greater resilience to floods, droughts, and storms. World Bank Live
• [New] Vietnam's commitment: By 2030, Vietnam will ensure sufficient water supply for domestic use and economic development, reaching 100% of urban households and 80% of rural households. World Bank Live
• [New] The growing global water scarcity makes the rational use of water resources a matter of national policy level, placing it at the core of the Uzbekistan 2030 strategy, which sets 10 concrete targets to be achieved by 2030. World Bank Live
• [New] Kenya is facing a widening gap between growing demand for reliable water sanitation and irrigation, and limited climate-vulnerable supply with inadequate service coverage, high losses, low storage, and overreliance on rain-fed systems, turning water insecurity into a macrofiscal risk. World Bank Live
• [New] President Alassane Ouattara is a champion of the African Union 2063 Green Agenda, and 2026 has been designated as the Year of Drinkable Water. World Bank Live
• [New] Through the Presidential Pact for Water, we are aiming for 60% access to drinkable water by 2035 with a program representing 20 billion dollars. World Bank Live
• [New] Water scarcity intensified by climate change could actually cost some regions up to 6% of GDP by 2050. World Bank Live
• [New] Municipalities across Colorado are enacting water restrictions due to one of the warmest and driest winters on record, negatively impacting the snowpack and amount of water that is expected to be available in 2026. KUSA
• [New] Putting solar panels over California's open canals could save billions of gallons of water annually. Business Facilities Magazine
• [New] Global water demand is projected to increase by another 20% to 25% by 2050, all while the number of watersheds affected by unpredictable water supplies is expected to rise by 19%. Population Connection

Last updated: 17 May 2026