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 kind of increasingly frequent heatwaves we have experienced and greatly reduced rainfall that we could see over successive summers with climate change, plus a projected increase in demand for water, have raised the prospect that England could at some point run out of water. BBC News
• [New] The U.S. Department of Energy finalized standards requiring over 50% of newly manufactured electric storage water heaters to use heat pump technology by 2029. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Industrial water utilities are expected to register the fastest growth, expanding at a CAGR of 13.9% between 2026 and 2033, driven by sustainability commitments, water reuse initiatives, and rising freshwater costs across manufacturing, mining, and power generation industries. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Fastest Growing Region: Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region, projected at a 13.7% CAGR fueled by rapid urbanization, water scarcity, and large-scale government-backed smart city programs. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Standards such as the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management, the repricing of insurance for water-exposed assets, and the direct exposure of infrastructure and balance sheets mean the ability to measure and evidence water-driven risk is increasingly a condition of operating. African Mining Market
• [New] NASA plans a sustainable moon base staffed by astronauts and robots near the lunar south pole, where permanently shadowed craters are thought to hold tons of frozen water that could be turned into rocket fuel and drinking water. The Guardian
• [New] On the water side, MPs were warned earlier in 2026 that official forecasts of England's future water needs excluded datacenters, despite the growing number of them, and that they could end up competing with homes and businesses for supply. theregister
• [New] AI-powered data centers are becoming significant consumers of electricity and water, with demand expected to increase substantially by 2030. GCC BUSINESS WATCH
• [New] Water and food security will form another major pillar of WGES 2026, reflecting the growing pressure that climate change is placing on essential resources. GCC BUSINESS WATCH
• [New] Swiss startup Riverkin develops river monitoring technology that tracks water, sediment, and flood risks. Vestbee
• [New] Increasing pressure on global water resources is encouraging industries to adopt water reuse and recycling strategies, creating new opportunities for zero valent iron technologies. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The potential economic consequences are significant: the African Development Bank estimates that a Super El Nino could result in a US$ 10 billion to US$ 20 billion hit across African countries, with impacts extending to food and water security, infrastructure and economic activity. African Mining Market
• [New] While drinking-water testing leads regulatory activity now, the European Food Safety Authority's scientific opinion on microplastics in food, due by the end of 2027, could prove a major inflection point. Science and Medicine Group
• [New] The EU established a harmonized methodology under Delegated Decision 2024/1441 for measuring microplastics in drinking water, under Article 13 of the revised Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184). Science and Medicine Group
• As worldwide awareness of water shortage grows, demand for surface and groundwater monitoring technologies will likely expand, driven by the need to implement proactive steps to ensure water security. Straits Research
• In 2030 there might be a 40% global gap between water supply and demand. Straits Research
• The Panama Canal is expected to limit traffic starting in early September, as it prepares for lower water levels due to the El Nino weather phenomenon. Al Jazeera
• By 2030, Algeria aims for desalination to meet 60% of its water needs, complemented by advanced wastewater treatment technologies to better manage future climate challenges. iofs
• U.S. hyperscale data centers are projected to withdraw 150.4 billion gallons of water from 2025 through 2030, driving more than $4 billion in water-related spending. investing.com
• To mitigate drought risk, including water storage, efficiency, and demand-side measures, the CCC estimates between £0.9bn and £2.6bn per year is needed. Green Central Banking
• Asia Pacific is projected to register the fastest CAGR, driven by rapid urbanization, expanding municipal infrastructure investment, and increasing modernization of aging water and wastewater networks. Persistence Market Research
• Water main pipes is likely to register fast growth projected above 5.6% CAGR, driven by rising water main break rates and municipal drinking water infrastructure investment worldwide across aging distribution networks nationwide requiring proactive rehabilitation ahead of costly emergency repairs. Persistence Market Research
• Fastest Growing Region: Middle East & Africa is likely to reach fast growth at a projected 7.9% CAGR, supported by water scarcity and desalination-linked filtration adoption. Persistence Market Research

Last updated: 31 August 2026