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] Over the next 10 years, American Water plans to invest $46 billion to $48 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions. American Water Newsroom
• [New] One silver lining is that parched regions like the Colorado River Basin could get deluged with rain and snow, boosting water supplies. Earth Island Journal
• [New] An analysis of FDA and EPA fish testing data by the Environmental Working Group non-profit found eating one serving of US freshwater fish contaminated with median PFAS levels could be equivalent to drinking highly contaminated water every day for a month. The Guardian
• [New] Strengthening institutional capabilities for real-time data modelling and predictive analytics, as highlighted by Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses will enable timely responses to potential water weaponization. / China Drishti IAS
• [New] Siang Upper Multipurpose Project: India plans a around 11.2 GW hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh as a strategic and water-security response. Drishti IAS
• [New] Water covers more than 70% of the Earth's surface yet risks of scarcity and limited access form one of the defining crises of the coming century. Forbes
• [New] Turkey has been seized by ongoing drought, with a United Nations report predicting that Turkey would become a water-poor country by 2030. The 21st Century Matriarch
• [New] Asia Pacific is anticipated to lead in 2026 with a share of nearly 38.2%, as it combines high population pressure, water scarcity, and rising government spending. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Industrial planners should balance near-term drought risks with the potential for changing hydrologic conditions later in 2026 and next winter. / USA Industrial Info Resources
• [New] Rather than viewing El Nino as a solution to ongoing drought, it is more appropriately considered a potential turning point that could influence water resource management over the coming year. / USA Industrial Info Resources
• [New] Planners should monitor how El Nino evolves through autumn, as winter 2026-27 could begin reshaping water availability, hydroelectric generation, reservoir storage and long-range infrastructure planning across parts of the southern United States. Industrial Info Resources
• [New] Globally, drought is the most widespread climate-related risk, threatening around 1.8 billion children. Forbes
• [New] As another scorching summer begins, millions of Iranians are once again living through a predictable cycle of blackouts, water shortages, economic disruption, and declining quality of life. NCRI
• [New] Diflufenican and epyrifenacil will eventually break down into multiple smaller PFAS chemicals, including trifluoroacetic acid, or TFA, thought to be one of the most pervasive PFAS water contaminants in the world. Center for Biological Diversity
• [New] Severe Resource Strain: By 2030, data center cooling loops will consume enough fresh water annually to meet the basic survival needs of the 1.3 billion people living in sub-Saharan Africa. Insights IAS
• [New] Changing rainfall patterns associated with El Nino are expected to bring drought to some regions and severe flooding to others, threatening harvests, livestock, water supplies and food production across Africa, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean. UN News
• [New] The imperative to ensure global food security amid changing climate conditions presents substantial opportunities for agricultural resilience technologies including drought-tolerant crop varieties, precision agriculture systems, and climate-smart farming practices. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The World Meteorological Organization documents that weather, climate, and water-related hazards accounted for 50% of all disasters and 45% of all reported deaths from disasters globally over the past five decades. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The onset of a potentially powerful El Nino weather pattern could boost global heat in the oceans and atmosphere even further in 2026 and into next year. GorakhaPatra
• [New] Internationally, the expansion of desalination infrastructure in the Middle East and water treatment buildouts across South Asia and Southeast Asia are creating significant export-oriented opportunities for qualified filtration-grade silica sand producers. Persistence Market Research
• [New] In the United States alone, annual capital expenditures for water and wastewater treatment infrastructure are projected to grow from US$ 37.2 billion to US$ 57.3 billion over the next decade. Persistence Market Research

Last updated: 11 July 2026