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] Drinking water infrastructure and other needs will require $2.1 to $2.4 trillion over the next 25 years. American Water Works Association
• [New] More than $2.8 million in federally-funded grants will go to 122 public water systems in 58 counties to support critical improvements. The Ohio Society of CPAs
• [New] The EPA predicts drinking water contaminated with the pesticide thiophanate-methyl can cause cancer in up to four in 10,000 people exposed. Final Call News
• [New] Water consumption for cooling AI data centers is predicted to double or even quadruple by 2028 compared to 2023. IEEE Spectrum
• [New] Direct water consumption in hyperscale data centers alone is expected to consume 16 billion to 33 billion gallons annually by 2028. / USA Brookings
• [New] Non-potable recycled water represents an opportunity for datacenters but we need Sydney Water to make recycled water available at an affordable price. The Guardian
• [New] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Renewable Fuel Standard Set 2 final rule sets a new high-water mark for the RFS, establishing all-time-high renewable volume obligations for 2026 and 2027. Beveridge & Diamond PC
• [New] Water security is quickly becoming an existential threat for most nations on Earth, including parts of the U.S. earth.com
• [New] Cities are especially at risk once global temperatures climb 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, because dense populations burn through water supplies fast. earth.com
• [New] The Legends Global Acts Water Fund will back efforts expected to restore 7.5 million gallons of water in drought-prone regions, including in Texas, California, and on the Arizona-California border. Trade Show News Network
• [New] Water levels have dropped roughly 7 feet so far in 2026 and are forecast to continue a gradual decline through the months ahead. / USA AOL
• [New] The average annual bill for drinking water could rise from $429 in 2025 to $969 by 2050, an increase of 126%. Smart Water Magazine
• [New] If ratepayers alone are asked to fill the funding gap, average annual household drinking water bills would more than double - from $429 in 2025 to $969 by 2050 (in 2025 dollars). American Water Works Association
• [New] Across North America, water availability is moving from a background utility to a primary constraint, one that is already delaying projects, reshaping site viability, and introducing a new layer of risk into capital planning. Environment+Energy Leader
• [New] Although rainwater harvesting is one of the oldest practices for water supply, its potential remains largely untapped in many regions, particularly across Europe and America. Nature
• [New] Iranian hackers are exploiting cyber vulnerabilities in key software systems at U.S. water and energy providers. Just Security
• [New] Water demand is projected to surpass supply by 30% by 2030, placing a binding physical ceiling on the most water-intensive industries unless governance and infrastructure catch up. The Rio Times
• [New] Nonprofits including the Center for Food Safety and Food & Water Watch say that it will restrict states and local governments from adopting stronger pesticide regulations. Food Tank
• [New] Cities, towns and industrial facilities across South Texas are racing to drill wells as Corpus Christi's reservoirs run dry, threatening the water supplies of rural residents and small towns that have long depended on local aquifers. RuralOrganizing
• [New] A report released today by the American Water Works Association finds that addressing U.S. drinking water infrastructure and other critical needs will require $2.1 trillion to $2.4 trillion over the next 25 years, testing the limits of water affordability. Treatment Plant Operator
• [New] Forecast seasonal water supply volumes from the California-Nevada River Forecast Center have dropped; most locations are forecast to receive 50-75% of median April-July runoff. Drought.gov

Last updated: 19 April 2026