Our March 2026 issue is out.
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A systematic review of Indigenous peoples’ participation in dominant systems of water governance - Nature Water Participation is widely recognized as essential for effective water governance, with growing interest in the meaningful inclusion of Indigenous peoples in decision-making. A global systematic review r...

Analyzing 183 case studies, a new Analysis in Nature Water by Laila Kasuri and colleagues reveals that Indigenous peoples are reshaping water governance despite limited meaningful participation. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

A multiscale perspective for understanding transport mechanisms in desalination and ion-selective membranes - Nature Water This Perspective explores the multiscale transport mechanisms of water and solutes in desalination and ion selective membranes, offering mechanistic insights to guide the design of next-generation mem...

Advances in nanochannel transport reveal phenomena not captured by traditional models. Our new Perspective by Hanqing Fan and colleagues examines advances across scales to unify our understanding and guide future membrane design. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Antibiotic membranes with broad-spectrum antibacterial properties for efficient molecular separations - Nature Water This study reports an ultrathin kanamycin-based composite membrane that overcomes permeability–selectivity trade-offs while delivering strong fouling resistance and broad-spectrum antibacterial activi...

A new Article in Nature Water by Yuxin Yuan and colleagues develops a kanamycin-based membrane with impressive separation performance, achieving 99.6% solute rejection and high antibacterial activity. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Deep learning can facilitate physically interpretable geoscientific modelling - Nature Water Modern deep learning can be used not only to improve predictions, but also to uncover interpretable equations that connect observable properties to the parameters of physically based geoscientific mod...

Find the linked News & Views article by Hoshin V. Gupta www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Distilling hydrological and land-surface model parameters from physio-geographical properties using text-generating AI - Nature Water Estimating parameters for distributed hydrological models is challenging, especially in regions with limited data. Here the authors employ variational autoencoders to generate optimal parameter transf...

Our new Article by Moritz Feigl and colleagues offers a novel approach to deriving parameter transfer functions for hydrological models, which enhances runoff predictions in ungauged basins and improves model interpretability and scalability. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

A quantitative metric for industrial water use sustainability for environmental, social and governance reporting - Nature Water Quantifying water sustainability relies on limited and non-uniform metrics that risk greenwashing and hinder effective investment decisions. To address this, the proposed water sustainability index (W...

A new Perspective in Nature Water by Yoora Cho and colleagues proposes the Water Sustainability Index (WSI), a metric designed to enhance transparency and guide sustainable corporate practices. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

In situ photo-regenerative phenolic interface for continuous precious metal recovery - Nature Water A photochemical regeneration strategy achieves repeated capture and release of diverse precious metals by integrating a phenol–quinone redox cycle into a nanocarbon aerogel scaffold, offering a practi...

Our new Article by Xuemin Chen and colleagues introduces a nanocarbon aerogel that uses light-driven electron transfer for metal recovery (Au, Ag, Pt and Pd). www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Mg2+ in drinking water boosts Salmonella infection risk by rewiring gut ecology and virulence - Nature Water Minerals in drinking water can influence gut health, especially during infection. This study finds that magnesium in drinking water worsens Salmonella-driven gut inflammation by boosting the pathogen’...

A new Article in Nature Water by Tanghao Liu and colleagues presents that Mg2+ in drinking water exacerbates Salmonella-induced inflammation by activating bacterial competition mechanisms and altering the gut microbiome. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Hierarchically semi-interpenetrating polymer nanofilms for high-performance seawater desalination - Nature Water A macromolecule-regulated interfacial polymerization strategy enables control over polymer network architectures and micropore sizes, leading to membranes breaking the intrinsic permeability–selectivi...

Our new research article by Yu Chen and colleagues shows a macromolecule-regulated interfacial polymerization strategy, breaking the permeability–selectivity trade-off and resist chlorine and biofouling, promising better seawater desalination. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Transformative adaptation needed to break cycles of inequitable urban flood management - Nature Water Urban water hazards like flooding and contamination are worsening due to climate change, and their risks are deeply influenced by historical oppression and inequitable infrastructure decisions. This P...

A new Perspective in Nature Water by Rebecca L. Hale and colleagues emphasizes that urban flood risk inequities stem from historical planning and institutional oppression and can be worsened by technocratic adaptation. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Estimating methane emissions from global sewer networks - Nature Water Sewer systems have long been assumed to be negligible sources of methane, yet emerging evidence suggests that they represent a previously overlooked contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. This study...

A new Article in Nature Water by Keshab Sharma and colleagues estimates global sewer networks emit 1.2–2.0 Tg CH4 annually, adding to the wastewater sector's carbon footprint. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Neutral microenvironment-driven catalytic polymerization for closed-loop wastewater treatment and resource recovery - Nature Water A sustainable approach to wastewater treatment is achieved through pollutant polymerization, polymer recovery and catalyst reuse, enabled by the design of a Ni–Zn layered double hydroxide catalyst.

In Nature Water, Feng Ye and colleagues introduce a sustainable wastewater treatment strategy using a Ni–Zn layered double hydroxide catalyst. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Mapping global freshwater ecosystems to guide national restoration targets and nature-based solutions - Nature Water Freshwater ecosystems are crucial for biodiversity and climate resilience, yet they are often neglected in global climate policies. Here the authors present a global map of high-value freshwater ecosy...

A new global map in Nature Water by Mahya G. Z. Hashemi and colleagues highlights 51 million km² of rivers, wetlands, and floodplains crucial for climate adaptation.
www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Evolving resource potential of glacial lakes with ongoing deglaciation - Nature Water Lakes fed by melting and retreating glaciers are becoming important freshwater reservoirs, and their value depends on their storage capacity and sedimentation-dependent lifespan. This study estimates ...

A new Analysis in Nature Water by Georg Veh and colleagues estimates the volumes and sediment storage capacities of over 71,000 glacial lakes globally, highlighting their potential for sustainable water use. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Mesospace domain orchestrates microbial consortia by β-barrel porin modulation and local molecule enrichment for wastewater treatment - Nature Water Microbial consortia offer a promising route for sustainable wastewater treatment but are often constrained by inefficient interspecies metabolic interactions. This study shows that hydrogel-defined me...

Our new Article by Chao Liu and colleagues demonstrates how hydrogel-assembled mesoscale habitats enhance interspecies interactions, boosting hexanoate production by 307.2% www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Adsorption–microbial integration pioneers sustainable phosphorus cycle - Nature Water Escalating phosphorus pollution and depleting reserves necessitate sustainable control and recovery strategies. Here the authors develop a microbially enhanced La–Zr-loaded basalt system that achieves...

A new Article in Nature Water by Tianming Wu and colleagues introduces a microbially enhanced La–Zr-loaded basalt system, achieving over 90% phosphorus removal and recovery. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Our Editorial outlines publication boundaries, focusing on studies that engage with freshwater systems. We clarify our scope and remains dedicated to publishing research that substantively addresses water resources and their management. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Metagenome-resolved global microbial diversity and function in activated-sludge wastewater treatment systems - Nature Water Wastewater treatment plants harbour extensive but poorly characterized microbial genetic diversity. Using 828 metagenomes from wastewater treatement plants globally, this study reconstructs >24,000...

A new research article in Nature Water by Xiaojing Xie and colleagues perform a global study analyzed 828 metagenomes from wastewater treatment plants spanning six continents, reconstructing over 24,000 metagenome-assembled genomes. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Purifying water with manual pumping - Nature Water Underserved regions need electricity-free purifiers for clean water. Membranes with ultra-permeable nanofiltration performance present a promising route to delivering high-quality water purification w...

Find the associated News & Views by Jiansuxuan Chen & Ruobin Dai www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Fractal-inspired ultrapermeable membranes for electricity-free portable nanofiltration - Nature Water A membrane system operating without electricity and inspired by natural fractal transport patterns achieves exceptional nanofiltration performance, offering a simple and reliable source of potable wat...

A new article in Nature Water by Bowen Gan and colleagues develops a portable purifier using an ultrapermeable nanofiltration membrane delivers high-quality water without electricity. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Building scalability into atomic design - Nature Water Scaling up single-atom catalysts without losing atomic precision remains a major challenge. A supramolecular cascade-fixation strategy enables kilogram-scale synthesis with preserved structure and hig...

Read the related News & Views by Xinhao Wang, Li Gao, and Xiaoguang Duan www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Universal scalable production of single-atom catalysts for antibiotic wastewater treatment - Nature Water Single-atom catalysts are promising for water treatment but remain difficult to produce at scale. This work presents a cascade fixation strategy that delivers kilogram-scale, high-loading single-atom ...

Reported by Xunheng Jiang and colleagues in Nature Water, the scalable synthesis of single-atom catalysts is now achievable with a cascade fixation strategy, enabling high metal loading and effective antibiotic removal. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Scaling laws reveal the extent of Earth’s drying headwaters - Nature Water Non-perennial rivers and streams that periodically cease to flow are ubiquitous but seldom mapped, let alone monitored. Scaling models that include even the tiniest rivulets estimate that up to 78% of...

Please read the associated News & Views by Mathis Loïc Messager www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Forest streamflow driven by soils, topography and previous rains - Nature Water Forests cover almost a third of earth’s land and supply high-quality streamflow and groundwater. A global synthesis of forested catchments provides surprising insights into the importance of overland ...

Please find related News & Views by Hilary McMillan @mcmillanhydro.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Evolved extracellular polymeric substances act as a frontline shield against antibiotic tolerance and resistance in Escherichia coli - Nature Water Antibiotic resistance is a growing global threat, yet the role of extracellular defence mechanisms remains underexplored. This study reveals that evolved extracellular polymeric substances act as a fr...

A new research in Nature Water by Jing Yu and colleagues highlights the role of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in Escherichia coli. EPS modifications increase resistance, suggesting a critical yet underexplored defense mechanism against antibiotics. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Ten hidden metals and a nanopore in water - Nature Water Toxic metal contamination in water represents one of the most urgent yet underrecognized threats to public health and the environment. Now, a functionalized nanopore capable of simultaneously detectin...

Please find the linked News & Views article by Xiao-feng Kang: www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Our January 2026 issue is released.
www.nature.com/natwater/vol...

Detecting metal ions in natural water just got easier. Wen Sun and colleagues develop a new sensor that uses engineered nanopores and machine learning to identify ten divalent metal ions. www.nature.com/articles/s44...

A new global estimates in Nature Water by Gianluca Botter and colleagues reveal that non-perennial streams are more widespread than previously recognized. www.nature.com/articles/s44...