Our Scans · (LF.6) Clean Water and Sanitation · Weekly Summary

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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] Without faster permitting, innovation-ready designs, and congressional reauthorization of SRF funding beyond 2026, the clean-water gap could surpass $800 billion, threatening compliance, modernization, and public health. EFCG
• [New] Opal mining innovations in 2026 are set to reduce water usage by up to 35% through advanced recycling technologies. Farmonaut
• [New] With the completion of 22 dams and seven reservoirs scheduled for 2025, Turkey's total water storage capacity is anticipated to increase slightly to 183,739 cubic hectometers. Daily Sabah
• [New] What begins as a local water crisis in Iran then has the potential to become a transboundary environmental threat, affecting millions beyond its border, from Sistan and Baluchistan and Khuzestan to neighbouring countries downwind. The Conversation
• [New] Without swift action, Tehran could face one of the most severe urban water shortages in its history. Newsweek
• [New] Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a dire warning that the Iranian capital could soon face catastrophic water shortages and even evacuation if rain does not fall soon. Newsweek
• [New] $1 billion in existing state revenue will now be invested into the Texas Water Fund annually when state sales taxes exceed $46.5 billion. KCBD
• [New] A portion of existing state sales tax revenue - $1 billion annually - would be deposited into the Texas Water Fund each year, starting in 2027 to help fund water, wastewater and flood infrastructure projects. Insurance Journal
• [New] Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) Digital-twin control center predicts grid load, balancing renewable inputs with consumption patterns, saving $50 million annually. / USA Logiciel Solutions
• [New] UNICEF is delivering water storage and treatment supplies that will benefit up to 16,000 people daily. Secretary-General
• [New] Regional cooperation opportunities exist through the Southern African Development Community (SADC) framework, potentially sharing costs for cross-border water management, climate monitoring systems, and agricultural technology development. Discovery Alert
• [New] Targeted interventions in hotspots such as India, Kazakhstan, and Turkey could reduce water conflicts by improving efficiency in material production. EurekAlert!
• [New] Seawater Extraction: The ocean's water itself holds dissolved lithium; innovative electrochemical cells and selective membranes harvest lithium directly, though highly energy intensive as of 2026. Farmonaut
• [New] Water scarcity could reduce global GDP by up to 31%, equating to a staggering $70 trillion by 2050. JULAWAN GEDRYAM
• [New] Climate change could reduce property values by more than $600 billion nationwide, while also placing additional pressure on water resources, infrastructure, and public health systems. Insurance Business
• 66% of the global population will not have enough access to clean water by 2100. Yahoo News
• If we fail to integrate water considerations into global production strategies, we risk worsening both water crises and industrial vulnerabilities. EurekAlert!
• Given the mutual dependence and linkages between countries of South-east Asia, adaptation efforts will help to improve food security and reduce transboundary risks such as water scarcity. ST
• England has a lack of water resilience, with a growing population, higher risks of hot, dry summers and the fact no new major reservoir has been built in more than 30 years. The Guardian
• Replacing all meat with the equivalent quantities of plant-based foods with comparable nutrition profiles could cut the average American's food-related water use by nearly 30%. WMNF 88.5 FM

Last updated: 17 November 2025