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 world is projected to face a 40% shortfall between demand and available water supply by 2030. Precedence Research
• [New] Over the next decade Victoria will need an extra 95 billion liters of water per year on top of the Victorian Desalination Plant running at full capacity. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] There was an increased likelihood of urban water restrictions across most of Victoria in 2026, which would mean some metropolitan areas would have their water usage tightened for the first time since the Millennium Drought in the early 2000s. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] Melbourne and major regional cities could be placed on water restrictions by the end of 2026. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] Despite investment from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), water infrastructure will require significant additional investment, with the EPA estimating $625 billion in drinking water infrastructure needs over the next 20 years. Capstone DC
• [New] Settlement proceeds from 3M and DuPont began flowing to utilities and water systems in summer 2025, enabling them to begin deploying capital toward treatment infrastructure more effectively in 2026. Capstone DC
• [New] The EPA's decision to retain two PFAS compounds in its National Primary Drinking Water Regulation will still drive drinking water spending through the newly extended 2031 compliance deadline. Capstone DC
• [New] As the Trump administration's focus on per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances has become clearer over the last year, many water systems will be required to begin installing systems to meet the EPA's updated PFAS drinking water standards. Capstone DC
• [New] Suffolk has recently been identified by the Environment Agency as a Seriously Water Stressed Area, which means its long-term water security is under threat. BBC News
• [New] Australia's recent critical minerals agreement with the United States will lead to more water-intensive production and processing and substantial long-term environmental impacts. The Conversation
• [New] Up to 216 million people could be forced to migrate within their own countries by 2050, seeking better living conditions as water becomes scarce, agricultural productivity declines, and sea levels rise. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] The UN Water Conference in the United Arab Emirates will serve as a major milestone, offering a rare opportunity to align finance, policy and technology around shared water goals. Water Digest
• [New] Central Asian countries reached a 2026 water use and reservoir operation agreement during the 91st Interstate Commission for Water Coordination meeting in Ashgabat. Uzbek.Review is a publication by EUROUZ.eu
• [New] Mexico has committed to releasing more than 200,000 acre-feet of water to the United States starting this week, averting the threatened imposition of an additional U.S. tariff on Mexican goods. Mexico News Daily
• [New] The training and use of artificial-intelligence systems such as ChatGPT might already result in more annual carbon emissions than New York City and more water consumption than all the bottled water sold globally. San Francisco Examiner
• [New] AI could use between 312.5 and 764.6 billion liters of water in 2025. The Verge
• [New] New York's total investment in water infrastructure since 2017 is $6 billion dollars, $500 million of which is authorized for use from 2025-2026. Jones Day
• [New] Precision farming is one of the most promising agriculture business ideas for 2026, leveraging technologies such as GPS, IoT sensors, drones, and AI-powered analytics to monitor crop health, soil conditions, and water usage. Farmonaut
• [New] Vertical farming could reduce water usage by as much as 95% compared to traditional agriculture by 2025. Farmonaut
• [New] By 2050, 3.3 billion people - one third of the planet - will face water stress. United Nations Environment Programme
• As consumers continue to prioritize health optimization and functional nutrition, hydrogen water is expected to secure a strong position within the global beverage industry. openpr
• Field studies consistently show 20-30% water use reduction in orchards using AI-powered precision irrigation, with potential for even greater savings as technology and predictive models improve by 2026. Farmonaut
• Most major water savings in 2026 come from using AI-driven irrigation and hybrid systems. Farmonaut

Last updated: 29 December 2025