Global Scans · Water · Weekly Summary

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] 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] 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
• [New] No federal testing mandate for microplastics in drinking water will exist before 2031 at the earliest, putting a major potential tranche of compliance-driven instrument procurement - U.S. public utilities - at least five years out. Science and Medicine Group
• [New] Regulatory readiness is geographically uneven: California leads U.S. states with Phase Two treated-water testing expected in fall 2026; the EU has a harmonized methodology but no monitoring mandate yet; Japan has an advanced commercial ecosystem but no drinking-water requirement. Science and Medicine Group
• [New] 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
• [New] 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
• [New] The Panama Canal Authority is taking preemptive steps to conserve water in anticipation of serious El Nino-caused drought later in 2026 and into 2027. Freightos
• [New] Water scarcity is already evident, and according to UN projections, by 2040, the water deficit could reach 50% of total demand. Frontiers
• [New] The war on Iran has exposed the vulnerability of critical water infrastructure in a region that is among the most water-scarce in the world. Al Jazeera
• [New] The mass deployment of sensors, including Event Duration Monitoring, at all UK storm overflows creates opportunities for digital solutions to improve the way water quality is both managed and subsequently communicated to communities. CIWEM
• [New] England's National Drought Group announced on Thursday that it will switch from monthly to weekly meetings, saying that drought conditions are continuing to intensify despite the recent rain. BBC Weather
• [New] There are renewed warnings that threats to food and water security in the Pacific arising from a stronger than usual El Nino climate pattern will compound the shocks emanating from the ongoing Middle East conflict. Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy Centre
• [New] Weather risk is compounding, as El Nino, heat, drought and low water on European rivers and the Panama Canal threaten feedstock and agricultural supply and costs. Kemiex AG
• [New] While flood insurance remains broadly accessible, rising claims and a growing protection gap highlight fiscal risks, with an estimated £1.6bn to £2.2bn per year needed to keep flood risk levels steady, plus £0.9bn to £2.6bn annually for drought resilience measures. / UK Green Central Banking
• [New] Asia-Pacific is one of the most vulnerable regions with drought and wildfire risks, potentially impacting Palm Oil in Southeast Asia or grains in India and Australia. Kemiex AG
• Caused by Pacific Ocean temperatures that are more than 2 degrees Celsius warmer than normal, it will raise global temperatures and disrupt weather patterns around the world. Atlantic Council
• Attacks targeting critical infrastructure could have serious real-world consequences, including disruptions to hospitals, electrical systems and water treatment facilities. KDBC
• 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
• The scale of planned investment in water infrastructure across England and Wales is creating a substantial delivery opportunity, but workforce availability is emerging as an important constraint on how effectively that capital can be deployed. DirectorsTalk Interviews
• Water companies must have improved 75% of storm overflows by 2035, and 100% by 2045. / UK CIWEM

Last updated: 19 September 2026