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] England faces a shortfall in public water supplies of nearly five billion liters per day by 2055, and a further one billion liters a day shortfall in the wider economy. Mirage News
• [New] Significant water deficits are projected for Anglian Water and United Utilities by 2030 and for Yorkshire Water by 2040. Mirage News
• [New] WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Environmental Protection Agency's latest Clean Water Act rulemaking would undermine states and Tribes' abilities to ensure federally-approved projects do not threaten wildlife or people's access to clean, safe water. National Wildlife Federation
• [New] The State Water Resources Control Board has proposed distributing $855 million in financial assistance over 2027 to address drinking water needs in disadvantaged communities and emerging contaminants. TorHoerman Law, LLC
• [New] From 2026 to 2029, construction output is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 2.8%, driven by major investment in transport, renewable energy, water systems, and sewage infrastructure. PharmiWeb.com
• [New] The rapid global expansion of artificial intelligence is set to drive a 129% increase in water demand across the AI value chain by 2050. Stock Titan
• [New] When federally backed projects like oil pipelines or nickel mines affect water quality, fishing and drinking water, states and tribes get to review them and reject proposals that will do too much damage. Daily Breeze
• [New] Proposed changes to the federal definition of waters of the United States could strip protections from millions of wetlands, raising concerns about flooding, water quality, and state oversight. North Carolina Health News
• [New] Households earning up to 135% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) will see their total water and sewer bill capped at just 2% of their monthly income. SavingAdvice.com Blog
• [New] Again, the risks of inaction have become clear - decline in water availability and increase in water pollution could put up to 9% of global GDP at risk. Forbes
• [New] Cross-system transformative actions are essential to mitigate water stress before 2050. Nature
• [New] Even under the most sustainable scenario, which aligns with other global hydrological model projections, water stress in the YRB is expected to remain high through 2100, with potential increases in water demand still possible by 2050. Nature
• [New] To date, few investors in the developed world have taken threats to global water supplies very seriously. Nasdaq
• [New] With strong support from Norwegian authorities and a coalition of industrial partners, subsea desalination could offer a resilient, energy-efficient solution to meet rising global water demand. The Business Standard
• If left unchecked, millions of people could face increased malnutrition and water scarcity, causing serious health risks. The Cool Down
• Water companies are already reporting challenges in meeting their targets for building reservoirs, with Thames Water reporting that its new reservoir in Oxfordshire could cost billpayers up to £7.5bn, three times the original budget. The i Paper
• Roughly a fifth of the UK's water supply is currently being lost to leakages and firms have been set a target to half leakages by 2050. The i Paper
• England faces a shortfall of nearly 5 billion liters of water per day by 2050, which is over a third of the amount of water currently consumed by the public. The i Paper
• Climate change has increased the likelihood or severity of drought events in many parts of the world, causing reduced agricultural yields, drinking water shortages, increased wildfire risk, loss of lives and economic damages. United Nations

Last updated: 19 January 2026