Global Scans · Water · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Global demand for fresh water is expected to outpace sustainable supply by 40% in 2030. Global water demand will climb in tandem with population and economic growth. At least two-thirds of the world's population will face 'water stress' by 2025 and the number of people affected by floods could increase by a factor of three by 2100 bring significant risk of unrest and conflict. The UN Security Council will have to declare water a strategic resource of humanity and adopt a resolution to protect water resources and installations. Organizations will be expected to play their part in conserving water.

• [New] In February of 2025, FDA will issue a proposed rule on the permanent listing of lake (non-water soluble) colour additives. Arnold & Porter
• [New] Supported by the World Bank through the Large-Scale Irrigation Program, the irrigated area is set to increase from 18,000 to 39,700 hectares by 2027, which will reduce vulnerability to climate shocks and stabilise yields and volumes. Coface
• [New] Approximately 50% of Iran's population could soon face a shortage of drinking water. Caliber.az
• [New] China's Sponge Cities, which incorporate permeable surfaces and green spaces that capture, filter, and store water, reducing flood risks and promoting water reuse, are an excellent example of how Green Cities can improve climate resilience. Future Cities - Africa Green Building Summit 2025
• [New] Ocean productivity shifts could affect up to 40% of global protein sources that depend on marine ecosystems. ventrofy.com
• [New] Global data center water consumption is projected to reach 560 billion liters in 2025. AstuteAnalytica India Pvt. Ltd.
• [New] Public water use per person is expected to fall by 20% by 2038, and the total mass of residual waste per capita in 2042 must be roughly half that of 2019. Edie
• [New] While atmospheric patterns may occasionally shield the US, the underlying message is clear: as oceans continue heating, future hurricanes that do make landfall will be increasingly destructive. EnviroLink Network - The environmental news site since
• [New] Feeding a projected 10 billion people by 2050 will require bold and smarter choices in how the world manages its land, soil and water. Secretary-General
• [New] With the U.S. investing in upgrading water treatment infrastructure - for municipal systems, industrial wastewater plants, and environmental remediation - demand for ferrous sulfate is expected to remain strong over the next decade. EIN Presswire
• [New] Decarbonization within the Humberside industrial cluster could push Anglian Water into water deficit by 2030, leading to a shortage of 130m liters a day by 2050, while plans around the north-west cluster could push United Utilities into a deficit of around 70m liters a day by 2030. The Guardian
• [New] Water scarcity could hamper the UK's ability to reach its net zero targets. The Guardian
• [New] Day Zero Drought conditions are approaching rapidly worldwide, putting vast populations at risk of severe water scarcity. SciTechDaily
• [New] A report from UNESCO in March 2025 confirmed that the food and water supplies of around 2 billion people will be affected over the next two or three decades by what is now the fastest rate of glacier melting on record. Meer
• [New] Montana, Utah, and Pennsylvania adopted the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, which reduces wildfire risks to communities and nearby water infrastructure. The Driller
• [New] In 2026, we will see companies realize that addressing AI's water consumption is not just about conservation; it's fundamentally rethinking how and where we power intelligence. Salesforce
• [New] The Orange County Transportation Authority has approved $3.1 million to fund eight local projects that help keep Orange County's waterways clean by capturing transportation-related trash and debris before it reaches storm drains and the ocean. Mobility 21
• [New] The IIJA provides $8 billion a year for water infrastructure projects through 2026. Governing
• [New] An estimated $3.4 trillion will be needed over the next two decades to bring drinking water, stormwater and wastewater infrastructure up to date. Governing
• [New] By 2030, data center campuses across the United States could consume between 730 million and 1.12 billion cubic meters of water each year - the equivalent usage of between 6.5 million and 10 million Americans - a study published this week in Nature Sustainability suggests. Circle of Blue
• 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

Last updated: 06 December 2025