Global Scans · Water · Weekly Summary

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WHAT'S NEXT?: Global demand for fresh water is expected to outpace sustainable supply by 40% in 2030. Global water demand will climb in tandem with population and economic growth. At least two-thirds of the world's population will face 'water stress' by 2025 and the number of people affected by floods could increase by a factor of three by 2100 bring significant risk of unrest and conflict. The UN Security Council will have to declare water a strategic resource of humanity and adopt a resolution to protect water resources and installations. Organizations will be expected to play their part in conserving water.

• [New] Iraq's vulnerability is stark: more than 70% of its water flows from neighboring countries, with Turkey alone supplying half, Iran 15%, and Syria 5%, as reported by the Ministry of Water Resources. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] By 2030, global freshwater demand is expected to exceed supply by 40%, leaving an estimated 1.6 billion people without access to safe drinking water. Modern Diplomacy
• [New] If EPA adds microplastics to the UCMR, it will trigger mandatory monitoring of microplastic levels in public water systems and pave the way for potential federal regulations and litigation. Crowell & Moring - Microplastics Update: Regulatory and
• [New] Total water use in U.S. homes, businesses, institutions, and water distribution systems could be reduced by 25% to 60%. Pacific Institute
• [New] By 2050, plastics are expected to outweigh fish in the ocean. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• [New] Climate change is amplifying drought and flood risks across Kenya. Cool Green Science
• [New] The water shortage crisis demonstrates the Iranian regime's inability to address the needs of its citizens and could potentially trigger unrest. Critical Threats
• [New] Water shortages pose a serious security risk in Iran. The Conversation
• [New] What begins as a local water crisis in Iran then has the potential to become a transboundary environmental threat, affecting millions beyond its border, from Sistan and Baluchistan and Khuzestan to neighbouring countries downwind. The Conversation
• [New] Without swift action, Tehran could face one of the most severe urban water shortages in its history. Newsweek
• [New] $1 billion in existing state revenue will now be invested into the Texas Water Fund annually when state sales taxes exceed $46.5 billion. KCBD
• [New] The U.S. faces a projected clean-water infrastructure shortfall of $ 760-$ 785 billion by 2026, far exceeding federal and state loan commitments and leaving most costs to local governments and ratepayers. EFCG
• [New] United Utilities' plans include upgrading over 900 km of water mains and reducing storm overflows by more than 60% by 2030. New Civil Engineer
• [New] Anglian Water is aiming to develop plans for two new reservoirs, establish wetlands covering an area equivalent to 100 football pitches and renew 695 km of vulnerable pipes while Yorkshire Water will refurbish five reservoirs and replace 746 km of mains. New Civil Engineer
• [New] Some of the bigger specific projects expected to be delivered in AMP8 include Thames Water's plans to replace 500 km of water mains, install 1M smart meters and commission the Tideway Tunnel. New Civil Engineer
• [New] First Nations water and wastewater enhanced program: The federal government is proposing to commit $2.3 billion over three years (starting 2026-27) in order to renew the First Nations water and wastewater enhanced program. / Canada Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
• [New] Google's US$ 2 Billion Selangor data center, expected to generate US$ 3.2 Billion and 26,500 jobs by 2030, will use water-cooling technology to reduce energy use and emissions. Persistence Market Research
• [New] After successful validation, the full-scale 6,000-metre deep-ocean laban underwater equivalent of the International Space Station (ISS) - will be constructed, becoming the deepest human-occupied marine research station in history. Guidely
• [New] India has announced plans to build the world's deepest underwater research laboratory at a depth of 6,000 meters in the Indian Ocean, forming a major milestone under Vision 2047. Guidely
• [New] Imagine a world where industries run on the heat of the sun - where steam, hot water, and even electricity are generated sustainably, without a single drop of fossil fuel. Soleos Solar Energy Private Limited
• [New] By 2050, the total weight of plastic in the ocean will exceed the weight of fish. Yahoo Finance
• [New] US AI server buildout will require between 731 million and 1.125 billion additional cubic meters of water by 2030, while emitting the equivalent of between 24 and 44 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. New Scientist
• [New] The interconnected threats of wildfires, drought, extreme heat, and ocean acidification are multiplying, taking a severe toll on forests, oceans, and species globally, underscoring the compounding nature of the climate crisis. Risk Prevention Mitigation and Management Forum

Last updated: 22 November 2025