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] Using monitoring data collected by Environment Canada over the last 20 years, we calculated that up to 16.3% of the variation in water quality could be attributed to wildfires. UBC Science
• [New] While some advancements have been made towards reaching EU targets for water quality, quantity and flood preparedness, faster progress is needed across Europe to protect waters and better manage flood risks. Environment
• [New] The global water crisis is increasing, with more than two billion people already without access to safe drinking water and global water demand projected to exceed supply by 40% as early as 2030. Walker Morris
• [New] President Biden is committed to securing environmental justice and spurring economic opportunity for disadvantaged communities that are marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment in housing, transportation, water and wastewater infrastructure, and health care. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
• [New] The city of Hustonville will get $1.25 million in funding to replace over 17,000 feet of waterline and install 800 new water meters. Spectrum News Kentucky
• [New] Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment that will dedicate $1 billion per year in sales tax revenue to the Texas Water Fund, a long term investment aimed at expanding water supply and repairing infrastructure in both rural and urban communities. RuralOrganizing
• [New] The global water crisis, driven partly by climate change, could leave two-thirds of humanity facing water stress by 2026, with water scarcity becoming a critical issue for an increasing number of countries. NewsBreak
• [New] Wastewater contributes 7-10% of global methane emissions, a proportion that will rise as other sectors decarbonise, and instead, managed well, can produce energy, offer nutrients that displace synthetic fertilisers and provide precious re-use water to serve other needs. Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy Centre
• [New] 90% of disasters in the last decade were water-related, and with increasing disruption of the hydrological cycle by both climate change and human activity, floods, storms and droughts are increasingly affecting water management, economic development and natural ecosystems. Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy Centre
• [New] India's 2025 wastewater reuse policies mark a critical shift from treating only 28% of urban sewage to mandatory circular water management, addressing both environmental challenges and economic opportunities worth INR 630 million. SUSBIO | Sewage Treatment Plant | Packaged STP
• [New] New residential societies must start with 20% water recycling by 2027 and reach 50% by 2030-31. SUSBIO | Sewage Treatment Plant | Packaged STP
• [New] Global Water Risks: Climate, Population, and Politics Climate change is intensifying the hydrological cycle, causing more frequent droughts and floods that disrupt freshwater availability. ""
• [New] By 2030, global freshwater demand is expected to exceed supply by 40%, leaving an estimated 1.6 billion people without access to safe drinking water. Modern Diplomacy
• [New] Project Cedar, which will be built somewhere in the U.S. and operational in 2026, is being designed with four HDAC modules capable of capturing 3,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, and will also produce more than 6,000 tons of clean water annually. NewsData, LLC
• [New] Some of the bigger specific projects expected to be delivered in AMP8 include Thames Water's plans to replace 500 km of water mains, install 1M smart meters and commission the Tideway Tunnel. New Civil Engineer
• [New] We will see the rise of Hydro-Diplomacy, where transboundary water agreements become as critical as historic arms treaties. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• [New] Water privatization has sparked protests in Latin America and Africa, where communities fear loss of access and rising costs. ""
• To manage water more efficiently during droughts, California will need to invest in upgrading its water accounting systems. Public Policy Institute of California
• 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
• 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

Last updated: 30 November 2025