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] Looking to the supply outlook for 2026, vegetable production is anticipated to sit below the first half of 2025 as reduced water storages and significantly higher irrigation costs limit production potential. Australian Rural & Regional News
• [New] Melbourne and major regional cities could be placed on water restrictions by the end of 2026. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] There was an increased likelihood of urban water restrictions across most of Victoria in 2026, which would mean some metropolitan areas would have their water usage tightened for the first time since the Millennium Drought in the early 2000s. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] Pressure on water resources and climate-change impacts will likely affect Mexico's agriculture, resource extraction, and water-intensive industrial sectors, creating both regulatory risks and opportunities for water-efficient technologies and more sustainable resource governance. FiscalNote
• [New] In agriculture, AI-driven platforms (combining satellite imagery, IoT sensors, and predictive analytics) will help farmers use water and fertilizer more precisely, boosting crop yields while minimizing environmental impact - critical as the world faces resource constraints. Eglobalis
• [New] Advanced AI will ultimately drive the cost of software to effectively zero - making it free like water. Monetizely Inc
• [New] USDA will back research that improves soil health, water-use efficiency, and input reduction, positioning conservation as a productivity strategy rather than a regulatory mandate. Ag Bull Trading
• [New] Over the next decade Victoria will need an extra 95 billion liters of water per year on top of the Victorian Desalination Plant running at full capacity. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] Nearly every warm-water coral would disappear, devastating undersea ecosystems and threatening fisheries around the world. United Nations Environment Programme
• [New] Morocco will open a new deepwater Mediterranean port in 2026 and another on the Atlantic in 2028, Equipment and Water minister Nizar Baraka said, as the North African country aims to replicate the success of Africa's largest port, Tanger Med. Africa Center
• [New] Though smaller in share, Latin America and Middle East & Africa are poised for gradual growth, especially where renewable energy resources, industrial expansion, and government support converge - presenting long-term opportunities for water-electrolysis deployment. TimesTech
• [New] Cooling and water demands: Up to 40% of data center energy goes to cooling systems, and water use could reach 6.6 billion cubic meters annually by 2027. Main Street Magazine
• [New] The Chinese fish meal and fish oil industry has exploded along the West African coastline, threatening the food security of vulnerable local populations and causing water pollution through untreated effluent. Greenpeace Africa
• [New] The world is projected to face a 40% shortfall between demand and available water supply by 2030. Precedence Research
• [New] Despite investment from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), water infrastructure will require significant additional investment, with the EPA estimating $625 billion in drinking water infrastructure needs over the next 20 years. Capstone DC
• [New] The EPA's decision to retain two PFAS compounds in its National Primary Drinking Water Regulation will still drive drinking water spending through the newly extended 2031 compliance deadline. Capstone DC
• [New] If snowpack remains low all winter, that could mean low snowmelt in early 2026, which has ripple-down impacts on the entire Colorado River Basin and means less water for everyone. Colorado Public Radio
• [New] Field studies consistently show 20-30% water use reduction in orchards using AI-powered precision irrigation, with potential for even greater savings as technology and predictive models improve by 2026. Farmonaut
• [New] Automated AI irrigation systems ensure only the right amount of water is applied, conserving precious resources and supporting compliance with global sustainability standards - especially critical in regions facing severe droughts and water shortages by 2026. Farmonaut

Last updated: 04 January 2026