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] Fiscal Exposure: NITI Aayog projects that India's water demand will be twice the available supply by 2030, implying a potential GDP loss of up to 6%. PMF IAS
• [New] Rather than viewing El Nino as a solution to ongoing drought, it is more appropriately considered a potential turning point that could influence water resource management over the coming year. / USA Industrial Info Resources
• [New] Ofwat has published its first artificial intelligence adoption plan for the water sector, outlining how AI could support operational efficiency, environmental performance and regulatory oversight across UK water companies. Water Industry Hub
• [New] Google has announced it will replenish more water than it consumes by 2030 and invest $500 million globally in water reuse and watershed restoration. Water Industry Hub
• [New] As leakage and demand targets are already very ambitious, the only solution to deliver new supply is to increase the amount of water taken from the environment - which may be harmful - or to build new supplies, and major reservoirs can take 15 years to plan and build, Water UK wrote. The Guardian
• [New] The UK will not have enough water for future datacenters. The Guardian
• [New] More than one million properties could face delays unless new water resources are developed. / UK Water Magazine
• [New] WRDA 2026 is an incredible bipartisan achievement that will strengthen water resources infrastructure and increase access to clean and safe drinking water nationwide. Wastewater Digest
• [New] Across Europe, governments are quietly rebuilding civil defence systems, expanding military production, discussing conscription, increasing defence budgets, and warning citizens to prepare emergency food, water, medicine, batteries, and cash. Armstrong Economics
• [New] A prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, combined with the destruction of energy and water infrastructure, would pose a major risk to the global economy: slowing growth, persistent inflation, disruption of logistics chains, and lasting tensions in energy markets. Financial Afrik
• [New] While the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly a quarter of the world's oil exports pass, remains under the threat of closure, military operations now extend to energy and water infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, and Iran. Financial Afrik
• [New] England faces a potential water-supply shortfall of more than 5bn liters a day by the mid-2050s. The Guardian
• [New] Most rural areas in Djibouti face significant hardships, with water scarcity disrupting pastoralist livelihoods and widespread food insecurity threatening socioeconomic stability. BTI 2026
• [New] Planners should monitor how El Nino evolves through autumn, as winter 2026-27 could begin reshaping water availability, hydroelectric generation, reservoir storage and long-range infrastructure planning across parts of the southern United States. Industrial Info Resources
• [New] The water industry had not received the necessary investment in infrastructure under the privatised model, but the National Audit Office has estimated water companies will need to invest at least £290bn into infrastructure before 2050 to maintain networks and meet population needs. City AM
• [New] Drought, flooding, rising temperatures and water scarcity continue to threaten the lives and livelihoods of millions of Afghans. KT
• [New] As financing remains a major challenge where global investment needs range from $6.7 trillion by 2030 to $22.6 trillion by 2050 to meet SDG 6 targets water-related climate finance remains limited, representing about 3% of total climate finance. UN Water Conference Academic Hub
• [New] The UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 emphasizes improving efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and enhancing infrastructure resilience across water production and distribution systems. MarkNtel Advisors
• [New] Delhi Plans Mandatory Water Meters on All Borewells The Delhi government is drafting a new borewell policy under which all domestic and commercial borewells will be required to install water meters. SANDRP
• [New] The seasonal forecasts (Apr 2026-Mar 2027) project El Nino shifting China's water balance: the southeast coast will transition from deficits to moderate surpluses beginning during Jul-Sep 2026 and intensifying during Oct-Dec 2026. ISCIENCES

Last updated: 26 July 2026