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] Countries such as France have announced plans to develop nearly 1,000 water reuse projects by 2027 as part of national water resilience strategies. VynZ Research
• [New] From 2000 to 2030, the urban populations of Africa and Asia are expected to double, sharply increasing demand for a reliable water supply in cities. Bayelsa Watch
• [New] By 2050, up to a third of global GDP could be exposed to high water stress if current trajectories persist. The Water Diplomat
• [New] Ecuador has contracted its first parametric agricultural insurance policies, benefitting up to 10,000 people in smallholder rice and maize farming households against extreme rainfall and drought-risk. InsuResilience
• [New] Global hydrogen demand could increase substantially in the coming decades, emphasizing the need for efficient water management strategies. openpr
• [New] Water levels will decline substantially over the next 75 years under high-emissions pathways. Newsroom Panama
• [New] By 2026, smart irrigation will be driven by real-time soil and weather data from IoT sensors and verified by blockchain. Farmonaut
• [New] The repeated delays in adopting the updated water pollution standards leave little time for Member State authorities to plan and incorporate measures to address new pollutants in the next River Basin Management Plans, which must be finalised by the end of 2027. Global Agriculture
• [New] Upcoming 2026-2027 bidding rounds for new PPPs and multi-client desalination hubs in Chile and Peru will be discussed as part of the strategic agenda. MEXC
• [New] Several significant investment projects will be highlighted, including desalination for mining expansion programs in Chile, the Northern Chile Water Supply Corridor integrating multi-user desalination pipelines, and Peru's Coastal Desalination PPPs for Lima, Ilo, and southern industrial clusters. MEXC
• [New] By 2026, adoption of modern irrigation technology could reduce water usage in agriculture by up to 40%. Farmonaut
• [New] As challenges like global water scarcity intensify, the adoption of data-driven, modular, and remotely managed irrigation systems will underpin the productive, resilient, and sustainable farming landscapes of tomorrow. Farmonaut
• [New] Water demand driven by all facets of AI - cooling at data centers, power generation and chip fabrication - will grow by 129% by 2050, which is around 30 trillion liters of water each year. Route Fifty
• [New] The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notes that when finfish farms operate in open water, water moves freely between farms and the ocean, creating risks such as the amplification and transmission of disease between farmed and wild fish. FoodNavigator-USA.com
• [New] Budget 2026 missed a clear opportunity to invest in watershed security and modernize industrial water rates, a practical way to generate new revenue while avoiding the rapidly rising costs of floods, droughts, and wildfires. Watershed Security Coalition
• [New] The Nature Restoration Regulation, now in force, is translating one of the EU's key biodiversity targets into concrete action - restoring ecosystems to improve water and food security, protect communities from climate risks and support Europe's long-term resilience and prosperity. Environment
• [New] Through coordinated trucking, rail and ocean planning across the U.S. and Asia offices, Global provides end-to-end visibility and contingency options before disruption escalates. Global Forwarding
• EPA retained only the 4 ppt Maximum Contaminant Levels for PFO and PFOS, Public water systems will now have an additional two years (until 2031) to comply with the MCL for PFOA and PFOS. BCLP - Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner - Federal PFAS Regul
• Ensuring safe drinking water and reliable water infrastructure as well as the protection and restoration of waterbodies and watersheds will be priorities for EPA in the coming years. J. J. Keller Compliance Network
• Hydrosat secured $60 million in Series B funding to expand its thermal imaging satellites used for monitoring water stress and climate risks. Cyclop SpaceTech
• Access to reliable, affordable energy and water will surpass labour availability as the top site selection criteria in Mexico. American Industrial Magazine
• Ocean energy technologies including wave, tidal, ocean thermal energy conversion with its 8-10 terawatt theoretical global potential, and salinity gradient power are progressing toward commercial viability. GlobeNewswire

Last updated: 28 February 2026