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] Around 700 million people worldwide suffer from water scarcity, a number that is predicted to rapidly increase in coming decades. ClimateCheck
• [New] Climate change has aggravated water stress and may cause significant danger to global health and productivity, and will continue to do so as global temperatures rise and weather patterns change. ClimateCheck
• [New] The increased prevalence of drought has a high potential to disrupt water sources and strain water supply in communities across America. ClimateCheck
• [New] Ensuring safe water access is critical to improving food security, reducing health risks, and supporting healthier communities worldwide. EurekAlert!
• [New] Worst affected will be people living in the Middle East, where 95% are forecast to face water shortages. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] More than half of the world's population will be affected by water shortages by 2032, causing severe health consequences, unless urgent action is taken. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Agricultural forecasters in the U.S. now expect farmers to lose more than 40% of the cotton crop, while many acres of farmland are being left unplanted because of water shortages. The Council of Industry
• [New] Google announced five AI data center water commitments, including a goal to become water-positive by 2030, local infrastructure investments, and greater transparency around water usage. Tech Startups - Tech News, Tech Trends & Startup Fundin
• [New] Backed by IDE's proven innovation in water technology, the Harbour Island Desalination Facility will solve for a critical water need in South Texas and help to diversify and strengthen the overall water supply. Rutland Herald
• [New] The project, which is designed to deliver 100 million gallons of water per day to South Texas, will be the largest seawater desalination facility in the Western Hemisphere. Rutland Herald
• [New] Recent seasonal outlooks point to an elevated risk of heat and water stress across several of the world's key agricultural production areas. Elicit Plant
• [New] India is projected to increase in the forecast period due to rising awareness regarding the benefits of consuming purified water. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Michigan is just beginning to respond to more newly known hazards, such as the PFAS forever chemicals that have sullied hundreds of Michigan water bodies, making fish unsafe to eat. Insurance Journal
• [New] While Michigan's rivers provide drinking water for millions and an abundance of recreational opportunities, they struggle with widespread E. coli and PFAS pollution, development pressure, legacy contamination that makes fish unsafe to eat and a host of other challenges. Insurance Journal
• [New] Widespread Risk: Future projections suggest that by 2071, nearly half of the 204 freshwater basins in the US may not be able to meet monthly water demands. To be
• [New] The Valuing Water Finance Initiative is a global investor-led effort to engage companies with a large water footprint to value and act on water as a financial risk and make the necessary large-scale changes to better protect freshwater water resources and build business resiliency. Ceres: Sustainability is the bottom line
• [New] Google aims to replenish more freshwater than we consume by 2030 and help improve water quality and ecosystem health in the communities where we operate. Google Data Centers
• [New] Google will evaluate projects on the basis of volumetric benefits (in millions of gallons per year MGY) following the Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting 2.0 Guidance as the industry standard. Google Data Centers

Last updated: 07 June 2026