Global Scans · Water · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Global demand for fresh water is expected to outpace sustainable supply by 40% in 2030. Global water demand will climb in tandem with population and economic growth. At least two-thirds of the world's population will face 'water stress' by 2025 and the number of people affected by floods could increase by a factor of three by 2100 bring significant risk of unrest and conflict. The UN Security Council will have to declare water a strategic resource of humanity and adopt a resolution to protect water resources and installations. Organizations will be expected to play their part in conserving water.

• [New] By 2030 there could be a 40% global shortfall in freshwater resources while demand increases by more than 20%, making desalination technology all the more essential. Atlantic Council
• [New] The World Economic Forum highlights that global freshwater demand is expected to surpass supply by 40% by 2030, potentially leaving 1.6 billion people without access to safe drinking water. Yahoo Finance Singapore
• [New] The efficiency rate of agricultural irrigation is targeted to increase to 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2050. KURE Encyclopedia
• [New] The recovery rate of water used in industrial facilities is planned to reach 30% by 2030 and 50% by 2050. KURE Encyclopedia
• [New] The National Water Plan sets ambitious targets, such as reducing losses in drinking water networks to 25% by 2030 and promoting industrial water recovery. Smart Water Magazine
• [New] Large parts of the United States are expected to experience an unusually hot and dry spring, with drought conditions forecast to expand across the West and parts of the Plains. Newsweek
• [New] Iran responds to Trump's ultimatum by threatening Gulf energy and water systems. Fault Lines
• [New] The EPA finalized the first-ever national drinking water standard for six PFAS compounds in 2024, with utilities required to comply by 2029. RKIN
• [New] Drier and hotter conditions linked to El Nino in parts of Australia, Indonesia and the wider Coral Triangle raise the risk of bushfires, haze and water shortages. The Traveler
• [New] A likely El Nino return in late 2026, layered on record-warm oceans, is raising concerns over flight disruption, coastal tourism risks, and fragile travel hotspots. The Traveler
• [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] 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
• AI's water usage is set to grow by about 130%, or by about 30 trillion liters (7.9 trillion gallons) of water through 2050. Fortune
• Water used for data-centre cooling will triple by 2050 as AI adoption accelerates. FirstPost
• AI as a whole will increase its cumulative power and water consumption greatly over the next 20 years or so. Fortune
• By 2030, the world is projected to face a 40% global water deficit under the business-as-usual climate scenario. InternationalDayForests
• By 2050, an extra 2.3 billion people are projected to be living in river basins under severe water stress, especially in North and South Africa, and South and Central Asia. InternationalDayForests
• Public water supplies will be short of 5 billion liters of water a day by 2055 with an additional 1 billion liters of water needed in the wider economy. Blue Patch
• In 2026, Clean Water Action will be seeking the passage of several bills to remove mercury from skin lighteners, carcinogens in hair products and PFAS in menstrual products. Clean Water Action

Last updated: 28 March 2026