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] 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
• [New] The training and use of artificial-intelligence systems such as ChatGPT might already result in more annual carbon emissions than New York City and more water consumption than all the bottled water sold globally. San Francisco Examiner
• [New] Microsoft's AI for Earth supports projects that improve water efficiency and predict crop yields in Africa and India. DataVLab
• [New] The U.S. and Mexico signed an agreement to increase monitoring of the Tijuana river that empties near San Diego, while Bloomberg followed up on last week's water-linked tariff threat as Mexico agreed to deliver 202,000-acre feet of water to ease tensions. Miranda's Mexico Intelligence
• [New] By 2050, 3.3 billion people - one third of the planet - will face water stress. United Nations Environment Programme
• [New] Water availability per capita in Central Asia has fallen nearly 30% over the past 20 years, while the Caspian Sea's decline and the legacy of the Aral Sea disaster pose additional risks. The Astana Times
• [New] Changing climate patterns, unpredictable rainfall, and water scarcity are no longer hypothetical risks - they are reality for farmers and land managers worldwide. Farmonaut
• [New] The UN Water Conference in the United Arab Emirates will serve as a major milestone, offering a rare opportunity to align finance, policy and technology around shared water goals. Water Digest
• [New] Up to 216 million people could be forced to migrate within their own countries by 2050, seeking better living conditions as water becomes scarce, agricultural productivity declines, and sea levels rise. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] By 2025, AI systems could have a carbon footprint comparable to that of a global city such as New York and consume as much water as all bottled water drunk worldwide in a year. myScience
• [New] AI could use between 312.5 and 764.6 billion liters of water in 2025. The Verge
• [New] Vertical farming could reduce water usage by as much as 95% compared to traditional agriculture by 2025. Farmonaut
• [New] 2.7 billion people, about 60% of the Asia-Pacific population, have access to water for most of their basic needs but more than 4 billion still remain exposed to unsafe water, degraded ecosystems and escalating climate hazards. Boston Herald
• [New] Mexico's persistent shortfalls in deliveries have led to severe water shortages for Rio Grande Valley farmers and ranchers, devastating crops, costing jobs and threatening the local economy. American Ag Network

Last updated: 28 December 2025