Global Data Center Water Use Projected to Reach 6.6 Billion Cubic Meters Annually by 2027

Concerns over the environmental footprint of digital infrastructure, particularly its significant water consumption, continue to escalate. A recent social media post by Peter Wildeford brought this issue into sharp relief with a satirical comment: > "We're only using this much water because each American owns a data center." While an exaggeration, the tweet highlights a genuine and growing focus on the resource demands of the burgeoning digital economy.Data centers, the backbone of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and online services, require vast amounts of water primarily for cooling their high-density servers and equipment. This water is often utilized in evaporative cooling systems, where water dissipates heat through evaporation, leading to substantial consumption. The exact volume of water used varies significantly based on climate, cooling system efficiency, and energy sources.Estimates indicate that a single large data center can consume millions of gallons of water annually, sometimes comparable to the daily usage of a small town. For instance, some analyses suggest a typical 15-megawatt data center might use between 3 million and 5 million gallons of water per day. This demand places considerable strain on local water supplies, particularly in drought-prone regions where many of these facilities are situated.The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) is further accelerating this demand. Research suggests that global AI demand alone could account for 4.2 to 6.6 million cubic meters of water withdrawal by 2027, a volume equivalent to the total water withdrawal of a country like Denmark. Major technology companies are facing increasing scrutiny and are investing in more sustainable cooling technologies, including advanced liquid cooling systems, air-side economizers, and the use of recycled water, to mitigate their environmental impact.Tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Meta have publicly committed to reducing their water footprint, with goals to become "water positive" by 2030, meaning they aim to replenish more water than they consume. Despite these efforts, the industry faces ongoing pressure from regulators and environmental groups to enhance transparency regarding water usage and implement more robust sustainable practices. As the global reliance on digital services continues its upward trajectory, the water footprint of data centers is expected to remain a critical environmental and operational challenge, necessitating continuous innovation in water management.