Archive
Where Centralised Wastewater Treatment Stops Paying
A study of 10,826 Chinese treatment plants finds that big centralised systems are reaching two limits at once, on easing water scarcity and on paying their way, and that a hybrid model could do the job for up to 37% less.
Who Gets the Water? FAO's Draft Principles
FAO has published draft principles on who may use water and on what terms, a quiet piece of international work that speaks directly to this year's fights over drought, wells and free irrigation.
AI's Water Demand Could Double by 2030
A new report projects data centres' water footprint reaching 9.32 trillion litres by 2030, but the number is only meaningful once you know what it counts, and who is making the case.
Only Rainwater Into Windermere: What It Would Cost
An English coalition has costed what it would take to keep every drop of wastewater out of England's largest lake, £3.6–3.7 billion, and its modelling says nothing less ends harmful algal blooms.
Hydrogen Will Not Drink Europe Dry
The Joint Research Centre mapped 1,300 hydrogen plants against local water resources and found the EU's targets reachable without a water crisis, though southern Europe and parts of central Europe will need careful planning.
Microplastics in Water Are Not Chemically Inert
A new study finds that common microplastics spontaneously generate reactive oxygen species in water, a possible mechanism for harm that does not depend on the pollutants they carry.
The New W4 Magazine Is Here
W4 relaunches with a new website, an English edition, dedicated series pages and a separate professional hub – the same coverage, with far better tools for reading and finding it.
Saudi–Syrian Water Agreement to Help Rebuild Syria
A consortium of ACWA Power and WTCO, together with Syria's Ministry of Energy and Fichtner, will assess the country's water resources to lay the groundwork for a desalination programme of up to 1.2 million cubic metres a day.
Elephant Butte Reservoir at a Historic Low
According to NASA satellite images, the water level of Elephant Butte Reservoir fell to just 1.4% in July 2026, the lowest in half a century, further worsening water shortages along the Rio Grande in New Mexico and Texas.
A Record Number of Water Conflicts Are Hitting the World
According to new data presented at Stockholm's World Water Week, water is increasingly becoming a weapon of war, from Gaza and Sudan to Ukraine.