Abstract

Global water infrastructure stands at the crossroads of pressing challenges—including environmental degradation, socio-economic pressures, and climate change—that significantly complicate planning and decision-making. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, mounting concerns about climate extremes, and shifts in global demographics underline the imperative for robust and adaptive water infrastructure systems. This review paper explores global water infrastructure projects' uncertainties, vulnerabilities, and interactions. It investigates a suite of aspects ranging from risk allocation under public-private partnership frameworks to advanced engineering technologies for online water quality monitoring, as well as scenario-neutral and scenario-informed approaches to vulnerability analysis. Furthermore, we discuss how shifts in hydrological regimes, socio-economic demands, and institutional complexities interweave to challenge conventional water management paradigms. The review concludes by advocating for integrated and adaptive water management solutions, emphasizing the synergy of engineering, economics, and governance to achieve sustainable outcomes in water infrastructure planning.