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] Ocean freight rates in 2026 are expected to remain range-bound, with periodic spikes driven by capacity withdrawals, port congestion, or geopolitical events. iContainers
• [New] Around 21,000 desalination plants now operate across ~150 countries, and global energy consumption for desalination has nearly doubled since 2010 - with projections indicating another doubling by 2030. Market.us News
• [New] Across both catchments, £150 million will be invested to capture 190 million liters - or nearly 32 million toilet flushes' worth - of excess flows during heavy rainfall so they can be fully treated, protecting bathing water quality by preventing storm overflow discharges. Anglian Water Services
• [New] As water security issues proliferate in 2026 with the worsening effects of global warming on water resources, the year will find other areas where shared water reserves cause worry. Africa.com
• [New] This week, 28 UK-funded generators have been urgently dispatched to water and heating companies across Ukraine, where they will provide hundreds of thousands of residents with emergency utility supplies. GOV.UK
• [New] Global AI demand could use 4.2 to 6.6 billion cubic meters of water by 2027, roughly similar to Denmark's annual water withdrawals. ECOticias.com
• [New] Space Epoch's reusable Yuanxingzhe 1 is expected to fly from Haiyang toward the end of the year, with a water recovery of its first stage also planned for the debut missions. NASASpaceFlight.com
• [New] In the near-term, drought risks remain elevated across the Southern U.S. and Central Plains, with a 70% chance of intensification. KMAland.com
• [New] Mountain regions around the world are heating up faster than the lands below them, triggering dramatic shifts in snow, rain, and water supply that could affect over a billion people. ScienceDaily
• [New] Building from the current 2020-2025 Strategic Plan to Protect California's Coast and Ocean, the new Strategic Plan will guide OPC's work to protect California's coast and ocean through 2030. Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust
• [New] China has laid out ambitious plans to land astronauts on the moon's south pole before 2030, targeting a region believed to contain water ice and other resources vital for long-term human settlement. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] There will be a fierce global scramble for oil, water and skilled labour. Centre for European Reform
• The Chang'e 7 mission, scheduled for mid-2026, will target the lunar south pole with an orbiter, lander, and rover designed to explore shadowed craters for water ice-essential for future lunar habitat development. Aerospace & Defense News
• With US$ 1 billion in EPA funding now flowing to states for PFAS remediation, the contrast between clean bottled water and contaminated tap water will only sharpen. Yahoo Finance
• Public water systems have until 2029 to reduce PFAS in drinking water. WRDW-TV/WAGT-TV
• Resource depletion - from water scarcity to arable land loss - threatens food security worldwide. Farmonaut
• Investor Note: Investment in smart sprinkler systems and precision irrigation technologies is predicted to grow by 20% annually through 2028, driven by the need for sustainable and data-driven farming solutions. Farmonaut
• The challenges we face - the relentless grip of climate change, unpredictable rainfall patterns, increasing water scarcity, and a rapidly rising demand for global food production-make efficient irrigation systems a critical pillar for sustainable farming. Farmonaut
• Thousands of dams in the United States may be at risk of failure, and they could have major public health and economic impacts. Live Science
• A top priority in 2026 will be responsive irrigation systems capable of adjusting automatically to changing weather conditions. Conserva Irrigation
• Key initiatives include expanded water recycling, green hydrogen pilots, commissioning desalination plants, shifting to renewable energy sources, and transparency in environmental governance - with a target of net zero emissions by 2040. Farmonaut
• With global water demand exceeding supply and half of the world's population living in areas of high water stress by 2030 (UN), ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation is one of the biggest challenges heading into 2026. Earth Changers

Last updated: 14 February 2026