U.S. Data Centers Project to Quadruple Water Consumption by 2028 Amid AI Boom

Recent reports indicate a significant and growing water footprint for data centers, particularly driven by the surge in artificial intelligence technologies. This comes as a social media post by user "anton 🇺🇸" claimed that "the talking point that datacenters use some extreme volume of fresh water is just completely fabricated, it’s maddening." However, comprehensive analyses from research institutions and government bodies present a contrasting view, highlighting substantial water usage.

According to a 2024 report by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, U.S. data centers consumed an estimated 17 billion gallons of water directly for cooling in 2023. Projections suggest these figures could double or even quadruple by 2028, largely due to the increasing demands of AI. Major tech companies like Google and Meta reported significant water usage in 2023, with Google's operations consuming 6.1 billion gallons and Meta's data centers using 776 million gallons.

Data centers primarily use water for cooling their heat-generating servers, with evaporative cooling systems being a common but water-intensive method. While some facilities employ closed-loop or air-cooled systems that reduce direct water consumption, these often require more electricity, potentially increasing indirect water use from power generation. The overall water footprint includes on-site usage, water for electricity production, and water used in manufacturing processor chips.

The lack of consistent and transparent reporting from companies complicates a full understanding of the issue, though some, like Google, provide detailed figures for individual sites. Concerns are particularly acute in water-stressed regions, where new data center construction is booming. California, for instance, is considering legislation to mandate annual water use reporting from data centers to better manage this critical resource.

Experts emphasize the need for improved water efficiency and disclosure as the industry expands. Innovations in cooling technology and strategic site selection are crucial steps. Despite claims of fabrication, the collective data from various sources underscores that data center water consumption is a significant and escalating environmental concern warranting continued scrutiny and sustainable solutions.