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] The EPA predicts drinking water contaminated with the pesticide thiophanate-methyl can cause cancer in up to four in 10,000 people exposed. Final Call News
• [New] While 2.2 billion people globally cannot access healthy drinking water, the World Water Development Report predicts approximately six billion people will not reach enough clean water by 2050. Yeni Safak
• [New] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Renewable Fuel Standard Set 2 final rule sets a new high-water mark for the RFS, establishing all-time-high renewable volume obligations for 2026 and 2027. Beveridge & Diamond PC
• [New] By 2050, around 6 billion people may face insufficient access to clean water. Daily Sabah
• [New] California Water Service Group will continue to focus on maintaining its strong reputation and high levels of trust among its stakeholders as it moves forward into its second century of service. National Today
• [New] The EPA must do so given that some petitioners have identified instances where the NHV for associated gas streams could be compromised, such as in water or CO2 flooding which can introduce a large amount of inerts as part of the associated gas produced. Federal Register
• [New] The attack on the North Dakota water plant serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by cyber threats to public safety. Dr. Matthew Lynch
• [New] Irrigation water supply for the Klamath Project in 2026 will be woefully short of the needs of family farms and ranches. KWUA
• [New] EPA's announcement that it will consider microplastics as a drinking water contaminant is being dismissed as a PR stunt. PRX - Public Radio Exchange
• [New] If ratepayers alone are asked to fill the funding gap, average annual household drinking water bills would more than double - from $429 in 2025 to $969 by 2050 (in 2025 dollars). American Water Works Association
• [New] By 2028, AI data centers could consume water equivalent to 18.5 million households, the bill states. / USA webhosting.today
• [New] One industry estimate puts current use at less than 0.1% of Australia's total water, but future demand will depend on cooling choices and water source. The Times
• [New] Water demand is projected to surpass supply by 30% by 2030, placing a binding physical ceiling on the most water-intensive industries unless governance and infrastructure catch up. The Rio Times
• [New] The broader infrastructure commitment - a MXN 5.6 trillion public-private plan through 2030, with MXN 722 billion earmarked for 2026 alone across energy, transport, water, and airports - acknowledges that supply-side bottlenecks, not demand, are now the binding constraint on nearshoring growth. The Rio Times
• [New] Across North America, water availability is moving from a background utility to a primary constraint, one that is already delaying projects, reshaping site viability, and introducing a new layer of risk into capital planning. Environment+Energy Leader
• [New] In parallel, the EPA continues to expand its focus on emerging contaminants through efforts like the draft Contaminant Candidate List 6, reinforcing that water risk is broadening, not stabilizing. Environment+Energy Leader
• [New] Water consumption for cooling AI data centers is predicted to double or even quadruple by 2028 compared to 2023. IEEE Spectrum
• [New] The Legends Global Acts Water Fund will back efforts expected to restore 7.5 million gallons of water in drought-prone regions, including in Texas, California, and on the Arizona-California border. Trade Show News Network
• [New] The U.S. faces a growing crisis in its drinking water infrastructure that threatens not only the reliability of vital services but also the affordability of water for millions of households. Smart Water Magazine
• [New] If the entire funding shortfall is addressed through increased water rates, average household water bills will more than double by 2050. Smart Water Magazine

Last updated: 20 April 2026