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] Climate change is projected to increase the frequency of extreme precipitation events and the likelihood of short-term summer drought in New York State. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The Ocean Rescue Plan would create a huge network of protected areas (ocean sanctuaries) covering at least 30% of the oceans by 2030. Greenpeace International
• [New] Over the next three years, the Ocean Autonomy Cluster will receive strategic support from the NIC program, coordinated by Fremtidens Industri, to accelerate innovation, expand international partnerships, and strengthen its members' competitiveness in global markets. Cyprus Shipping News
• [New] Rivers spanning millions of kilometers across the globe are contaminated with antibiotics at concentrations that could foster drug resistance and threaten aquatic species. SciTechDaily
• [New] Ultimately as part of the campaign for water efficiency, Amazon aimed to cut its estimated 7.7bn gallon primary consumption to 4.9bn by 2030 - without addressing secondary use. The Guardian
• [New] AWS committed $10 billion more to sustainable infrastructure through 2030, including underwater cooling systems to reduce water usage. Future
• [New] By 2050, three quarters of humanity will face drought and water supply shortfalls. Pearls and Irritations
• [New] Covering about one-third of the planet's land area, forests help regulate carbon and hydrologic cycles and reduce risks of drought, desertification, soil erosion, landslides and floods. United Nations
• [New] Wholesale water rates could soar by as much as 150% over the next decade. San Diego Union-Tribune
• [New] The Pennsylvania Department of Health has documented significant health risks associated with gas operations, including air and water contamination that can worsen respiratory conditions like asthma. Scranton Times-Tribune
• [New] Regional water deficits by 2030 could jeopardise the UK's 2050 net zero targets unless urgent, collaborative action is taken to manage water resources effectively. New Civil Engineer
• [New] The water demands of decarbonization efforts - particularly in hydrogen production and carbon capture technology - could push several UK regions into significant water deficits as early as 2030. New Civil Engineer
• [New] Global AI demand is projected to account for 4.2 to 6.6 billion cubic meters of water withdrawal in 2027, more than half the United Kingdom's total annual water withdrawal. CyberNews
• [New] The Union government has prepared a Rs 6.4 trillion ($77 billion) transmission plan to transfer more than 76 gigawatts of hydroelectric capacity from the Brahmaputra basin by 2047 to meet rising electricity demand. The Times Of India
• EPA will propose a regulation this month to be finalized in April of 2026 that will provide additional time for public water systems to come into compliance with the maximum contaminant levels of PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. Williams Mullen
• Target 2 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to ensure that 30% of the total area of degraded terrestrial, inland water, and marine and coastal ecosystems is under effective restoration by 2030. IUCN
• Both indicators are rising, putting freshwater firmly in the Zone of Increasing Risk, with major river basins such as the Indo-Gangetic Plain and North China exceeding safe levels and more pronounced extremes undermining water availability and resilience. Arcadia Foundation
• There will likely be basis opportunities in eastern Ontario reflecting the drought of the last summer. Grain Farmers of Ontario
• Decarbonization efforts, associated with carbon capture and hydrogen production, could add up to 860 million liters per day of water demand by 2050. Water Magazine
• By 2040, additional water requirements needed for decarbonization in England are likely to be equally split between CO2 capture, blue hydrogen production and green hydrogen, placing an additional demand for 860 million liters of water per day across the UK by 2050. Water Magazine
• The water required for decarbonization projects will likely push some UK regions into a deficit as early as 2030. Water Magazine

Last updated: 01 November 2025