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AI's Thirst: Data Centers Drain Water by 2030
7 Mar
Summary
- US data centers may need NYC's daily water supply by 2030.
- Cooling systems in data centers are highly water-intensive.
- Infrastructure upgrades could cost billions, burdening communities.
Data centers powering AI are becoming major water consumers. By 2030, those in the U.S. might require additional water capacity equivalent to New York City's daily supply, according to a recent study. This growing demand poses a significant challenge to public water infrastructure.
Liquid cooling, essential for preventing data center overheating, is particularly water-intensive. Even "closed-loop" systems often rely on evaporative cooling towers, leading to substantial water usage. Some large data centers could need up to 8 million gallons daily during peak times.
The projected increase in water demand by 2030 could range from 697 million to 1.45 billion gallons per day. Building this new capacity is estimated to cost between $10 billion and $58 billion. This financial strain may fall heavily on the communities hosting these facilities.
Researchers advocate for mandatory peak water demand reporting by data centers. They also suggest corporate-community partnerships to fund infrastructure upgrades, ensuring residents do not bear the full cost. Without such measures, data center growth could be stifled by water scarcity.
