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] 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
• [New] As global water stress intensifies due to climate change, economic development and regional scarcity, proactive water stewardship enables organizations to optimize resource use, enhance efficiency, maintain quality and mitigate future disruptions. TRC Companies
• [New] Investing $1.8 trillion globally in five areas (early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, improved agriculture, mangrove protection and water resilience) could yield $7.1 trillion in total net benefits by 2030. TRC Companies
• [New] Hack Attack Federal cybersecurity agencies warned U.S. utilities and government agencies that Iranian-linked groups are attempting to hack into and disrupt critical infrastructure including water and energy systems. Circle of Blue
• [New] The RRC, faced with an uptick in earthquakes from wastewater injection deep underground, encouraged companies to dispose their wastewater in shallow areas despite knowing it could cause leaks onto ranch land and potentially harm drinking water. Insurance Journal
• [New] The FDA has issued warning letters to three California seafood processing facilities over serious violations of seafood HACCP regulations and sanitation standards, with one facility showing a history of Listeria contamination. SeafoodNews
• [New] High-Demand States: States like California stand out for their emphasis on renewable energy initiatives and water resource management, leading to abundant opportunities. Research.com
• [New] Deluges could come as a welcome relief for thirsty states in the US hoping water supply shortages caused by 2026's dire snowpack might be bailed out by a strong summer monsoon and wetter winter in 2027. The Guardian
• [New] The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the Fraunhofer Water Systems Alliance will present solutions that cover the entire water cycle, from water analytics through to wastewater treatment and reuse. Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
• [New] The second half of 2026 will almost certainly see the start of El Nino, a natural climate phase when warm water expands across the equatorial Pacific Ocean, heating the entire planet. New Scientist
• [New] Following the recent dissipation of the weak La Nina, the World Meteorological Organization flagged the potential emergence of a super El Nino - an event that occurs roughly once a decade - later in 2026 could threaten water levels in Gatun Lake, a critical component of the Panama Canal system. BRS Shipbrokers
• [New] Water availability, or lack thereof this year, will be a major factor in what crops Idaho farmers actually plant this year. AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST

Last updated: 10 May 2026