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] To manage water more efficiently during droughts, California will need to invest in upgrading its water accounting systems. Public Policy Institute of California
• [New] Across California, water managers rely on a range of tools - from models and monitoring systems to markets and planning frameworks - to identify risks, test alternatives, implement solutions, and track progress. Public Policy Institute of California
• [New] State water projections are grim, with several states including Texas, facing significant shortages and increased demand by 2070, driven by aquifer depletion and climate change. Levelland & Hockley County News Press
• [New] The Texas Water Development Board has projected water demand and existing supply for water users in each county, and a recurring, record-breaking drought could take a devastating toll on many, with some scary estimates. Levelland & Hockley County News Press
• [New] As demand begins to spike in 2026, water costs are expected to rise dramatically across affected regions. Waterless Co. Inc.
• [New] Data centers powering AI systems consumed approximately 17 billion gallons of water in 2023, a figure projected to surge to 68 billion gallons by 2028, a nearly 300% increase in just five years. Waterless Co. Inc.
• [New] The South African government plans to lift a 13-year moratorium on fracking in one of its most water-scarce regions. Circle of Blue
• [New] The first year of AMP8 (2025 to 2026) will be a critical moment for smart water metering across England. GOV.UK
• [New] The next reporting year, 2025 to 2026, will mark the first year of the price review 2024 business plans and final WRMP24 plans for most water companies. GOV.UK
• [New] Defra's Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 aims to achieve a 9% net reduction in non-household water use by 2037 to 2038, from 2019 to 2020 levels. GOV.UK
• [New] The water industry's 2050 commitment to halve leakage would reduce the overall rate of leakage to around 13% by 2050. GOV.UK
• [New] The national rollout of smart water meters across England will empower households and businesses to use water more efficiently. GOV.UK
• [New] Over 2 billion people currently live in water-stressed countries, a figure projected to rise sharply by 2030 without major intervention. ""
• [New] Warming water temperatures, driven by climate change and weather events like El Nino, may have pushed the areas where sharks rear their young farther into the Gulf of California, increasing the opportunity for orcas to hunt. Discover Magazine
• [New] Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a dire warning that the Iranian capital could soon face catastrophic water shortages and even evacuation if rain does not fall soon. Newsweek
• [New] Potato Peels Offer Promising Solution for Water Pollution A study by researchers at Batman University in Turkey has revealed that discarded potato peels could be used as a low-cost, environmentally friendly method to remove heavy metals and industrial dyes from contaminated water. Spud Smart
• [New] United Utilities' plans include upgrading over 900 km of water mains and reducing storm overflows by more than 60% by 2030. New Civil Engineer
• [New] Anglian Water is aiming to develop plans for two new reservoirs, establish wetlands covering an area equivalent to 100 football pitches and renew 695 km of vulnerable pipes while Yorkshire Water will refurbish five reservoirs and replace 746 km of mains. New Civil Engineer
• $1 billion in existing state revenue will now be invested into the Texas Water Fund annually when state sales taxes exceed $46.5 billion. KCBD
• Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) Digital-twin control center predicts grid load, balancing renewable inputs with consumption patterns, saving $50 million annually. / USA Logiciel Solutions

Last updated: 23 November 2025