Our Scans · (LF.6) 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] Domestically, the Water Security Strategy 2036 targets a 21% cut in water demand, a 95% wastewater reuse rate and a reduction of more than 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, alongside campaigns to promote responsible water use. The National
• [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] Water shortages are emerging in the Netherlands and could soon manifest elsewhere. CNN
• [New] Digital Demand: India's data center water consumption is projected to rise from ~150 billion liters to ~358 billion liters by 2030, intensifying urban water competition. PMF IAS
• [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
• [New] In 2026, ahead of an intense El Nino that is predicted to bring lower-than-usual levels of precipitation, Thailand's agriculture officials are urging farmers to plant crops that are less water-intensive to avoid another devastated harvest. Circle of Blue
• [New] Bangkok, Klong San district: Emergency evacuations and closure of a major thoroughfare followed discovery of a significant water leak in the Purple Line underground transit tunnel, disrupting transport connectivity in central Bangkok and signaling potential infrastructure vulnerabilities. GeoBit AI
• [New] Parallelly, expanding storage capacity across the Brahmaputra basin will help mitigate risks of flooding and seasonal water stress arising from Chinese interventions. Drishti IAS
• [New] Siang Upper Multipurpose Project: India plans a around 11.2 GW hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh as a strategic and water-security response. Drishti IAS
• [New] The Mekong-Korea Cooperation framework, with Vietnam co-chairing alongside Seoul, has set a 2026-2030 agenda focused on digital economy development, innovation, and water-food-energy security. KBA13 INSIGHT
• [New] Strengthening institutional capabilities for real-time data modelling and predictive analytics, as highlighted by Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses will enable timely responses to potential water weaponization. / China Drishti IAS
• [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
• The UAE recently launched the Abu Dhabi Global Water Platform, a $2 billion initiative aimed at improving water security for 10 million people by 2030, backed by a $1 billion commitment from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development. The National
• 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
• The EIB joined the Water Forward coalition pledging water security for 300 million people by 2030. Water Industry Hub
• By 2030, data center water consumption for AI cooling and electricity generation could reach 9.3 trillion liters - enough to meet global drinking water needs for 1.6 years. Water Industry Hub
• Rising climate variability is driving more frequent and severe water-related disasters, which account for the majority of natural hazards globally. UN Water Conference Academic Hub
• England faces a potential water-supply shortfall of more than 5bn liters a day by the mid-2050s. The Guardian
• Federal water managers have warned that Lake Powell - the U.S.' second-largest reservoir - could sink to levels that threaten hydropower production by 2027. Newsweek
• One silver lining is that parched regions like the Colorado River Basin could get deluged with rain and snow, boosting water supplies. Earth Island Journal
• If current conditions remain unchanged and water demand continues to outweigh the shrinking supply base of the Colorado River, households and businesses in the American West will experience further water shortages combined with higher water prices. The Conference Board

Last updated: 27 July 2026