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] Using a combination of satellite imagery, weather and ground-level environmental datasets, challenge registrants - who can form teams of up to three members - will develop AI models to forecast water quality based on key parameters (alkalinity, salinity and phosphorous) for rivers in South Africa. Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Katowicach
• [New] By 2026, water scarcity will develop from a developmental concern to a matter of national security, which may intensify international disputes over the Tigris-Euphrates basins as nations prioritise upstream resource control, harming their neighbours. SpecialEurasia
• [New] In 2026, the risk of water-borne IEDs and naval mines in the Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz will persist as a fundamental threat, thus upholding elevated insurance costs and impeding global energy supply chains. SpecialEurasia
• [New] Planned adjustments to irrigation tariffs in Punjab and Sindh are expected to bring water management closer to operational cost recovery. Mettis Global Link
• [New] A 2026 rewrite will determine funding levels, project prioritization, and cost-share formulas at a time when aging infrastructure, low-water events, and congestion are already straining the Mississippi River system and its tributaries. Ag Bull Trading
• [New] In agriculture, AI-driven platforms (combining satellite imagery, IoT sensors, and predictive analytics) will help farmers use water and fertilizer more precisely, boosting crop yields while minimizing environmental impact - critical as the world faces resource constraints. Eglobalis
• [New] EY's 2026 Geostrategic Outlook urges governments and companies to integrate water risk into core strategic planning. Mint
• [New] Only 23% of respondents said they 'know well' that the UK could face a significant water shortfall in coming years, with more than half having heard the risk but lacking details. Mirage News
• [New] All water companies - and all tap drinkers - now face an equal threat: the warming of the planet. The Bell
• [New] Reintroducing treated water into the Maricunga could destroy a unique and fragile ecosystem that is home to 53 animal species. The Guardian
• [New] Microsoft's AI for Earth supports projects that improve water efficiency and predict crop yields in Africa and India. DataVLab
• The world is projected to face a 40% shortfall between demand and available water supply by 2030. Precedence Research
• 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
• 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
• Melbourne and major regional cities could be placed on water restrictions by the end of 2026. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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

Last updated: 05 January 2026