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] Emerging water treatment technologies 2026 are not disruptive; instead, they are evolutionary. Water Treatment Supply
• [New] Advanced water treatment equipment in 2026 will increasingly prioritize modular design. Water Treatment Supply
• [New] Smart water treatment systems will become a baseline expectation by 2026. Water Treatment Supply
• [New] Emerging water treatment technologies 2026 are centered on three core outcomes: higher water efficiency, improved compliance, and lower operational risk. Water Treatment Supply
• [New] Emerging water treatment technologies 2026 are reshaping how facilities manage water efficiency, compliance, and operational risk. Water Treatment Supply
• [New] Freshwater demand for food production is expected to double by 2050, supporting a population of 10 billion people, but its availability remains uncertain due to rising concerns about water scarcity and socio-economic impacts. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Drought poses a significant threat to animals and crops, affecting up to 45% of the world's agricultural land, which is home to 38% of the global population. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Major crops face significant yield risks due to water scarcity, with projected losses of 7 to 8.1% for soybean, 9 to 12% for wheat, and 18.1 to 19.4% for rice by the end of the 21st century. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] As global interconnectivity and reliance on technology expand, the need for data centers and digital infrastructure rises, which consumes more energy and water for cooling, thus contributing to climate risk. Actuarial Review Magazine
• [New] Over 3 billion people rely on the oceans for their livelihoods, and further showed the sustainability of the oceans to be under serious threat due to plastic and marine pollution, among other factors (ocean warming, eutrophication, acidification, and fishery collapse). PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] By 2026, water scarcity will develop from a developmental concern to a matter of national security, which may intensify international disputes over the Tigris-Euphrates basins as nations prioritise upstream resource control, harming their neighbours. SpecialEurasia
• [New] As India's urban population grows rapidly, lapses in water testing heighten the risk of disease outbreaks. The Guardian
• [New] AI for Earth program applies AI to track forests, water resources, and climate hazards. Carbon Credits
• [New] In 2026, hydration will go beyond water. Speciality Food Magazine
• [New] Microplastics could be impacting the oceans' ability to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) which is critical for regulating Earth's temperature. The Times Of India
• [New] Water-walking robots might collect a million tons of ocean plastic by 2040. International Defense Security & Technology
• [New] Water conservation will become essential. Great British Life
• [New] Over the next decade Victoria will need an extra 95 billion liters of water per year on top of the Victorian Desalination Plant running at full capacity. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] There was an increased likelihood of urban water restrictions across most of Victoria in 2026, which would mean some metropolitan areas would have their water usage tightened for the first time since the Millennium Drought in the early 2000s. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] Melbourne and major regional cities could be placed on water restrictions by the end of 2026. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] Using a combination of satellite imagery, weather and ground-level environmental datasets, challenge registrants - who can form teams of up to three members - will develop AI models to forecast water quality based on key parameters (alkalinity, salinity and phosphorous) for rivers in South Africa. Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Katowicach

Last updated: 10 January 2026