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] Water companies are currently undergoing a major rollout of smart water meters, with plans to install over 10 million devices by 2030. Michelmores
• [New] Known as forever chemicals, PFAS compounds have been found widely in the environment, including thousands of groundwater sources throughout the U.S. PFAS compounds are currently the #1 emerging threat to water systems. RCAC
• [New] The New York Times claims to have obtained Microsoft documents showing forecasts for the annual water needs of roughly 100 of its campuses worldwide to more than triple to 28 billion liters by 2030, compared to 2020 levels. The Register
• [New] Hyperscalers are increasingly making water conscious decisions, reflected in commitments like Microsoft's new data center standards and Amazon's pledge to be water positive by 2030. Carmignac
• [New] A groundwater heat pump set to begin operations in 2026 at Portland International Airport will provide 90% fossil fuel-free heating, resulting in high-efficiency thermal comfort and minimal carbon output. Facilities Dive
• [New] Water companies could increase bills by 36% between 2025 and 2030. The Guardian
• [New] A roll-out of smart metering and mandatory efficiency labels on items like dishwashers and washing machines will help households monitor their water use and cut costs - delivering savings of £125 million on water and energy bills over the next decade. William Reed - Rethink Events
• [New] Global heating continues to drive volatility in the water cycle, with the UK experiencing below average rainfall more frequently and a rise in the risk of flooding. The Guardian
• [New] In Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan there have been tensions over water for a while and Afghanistan is building a very big canal, the Qosh Tepa canal, to divert water from the Amu Darya River, which if put into operation will significantly reduce flows to the central Asian republics. The Guardian
• [New] Planning deals around foreign direct investment (FDI) screening obligations will remain central to infrastructure in 2026, with energy, water, transport, telecoms, and data centers increasingly falling within scope as governments tighten controls. Freshfields
• [New] Projections using a machine-learning model, trained on historical socioeconomic and water-resources data, reveal the impact of inequality on water security and predict that, by 2100, 63% of the global population could face severe water scarcity. Nature
• [New] By late 2027, 80% of AI data centers will report resource consumption metrics such as water use and pollution, setting new expectations for environmental accountability and community impact. IDC
• [New] Florida has always been a state shaped by water - its beauty, its climate, and increasingly, its risk. GreatFlorida Insurance Blog
• [New] In Australia, mining companies are prioritising operational resilience, particularly around water-related risks, illustrating how risk assessment informs adaptation strategies. IIGCC
• [New] For the UK water workforce, it presents both opportunity and risk: the prospect of renewed investment, clearer long-term direction and enhanced professional status, alongside uncertainty over regulation, enforcement and organisational change. Water Magazine
• [New] Water bankruptcy is not a series of isolated local crises, but a shared global risk that demands a new type of response. CSO Futures
• [New] By 2026, vertical farming systems are projected to reduce urban agriculture water usage by up to 95%. Farmonaut
• [New] Extreme agricultural and ecological drought events that once occurred every 10 years are now 1.7 times more likely, and the odds of a two-decade megadrought lasting through the 2030s have risen from about 12% historically to more than 60% today. Las Vegas Sun
• [New] Water-related risks are moving higher on the global agenda due to their profound economic implications. Whalesbook
• The public water systems must implement solutions to reduce PFAS concentrations to acceptable levels by 2029. sustainalytics.com
• The urgency for climate adaptation in developing economies is staggering, with annual funding needs projected to hit $300 billion by 2030 to safeguard infrastructure, agriculture, and water systems from climate impacts. Council Fire

Last updated: 31 January 2026