Key facts
- AI data centers can have a significant impact on local water resources.
- A Meta data center in Georgia uses approximately 10 percent of the county's water supply.
- Data centers are estimated to account for 8 percent of water consumption in the Potomac River Basin, potentially rising to 29 percent by 2050.
- Forty percent of planned and existing US data centers are located in areas with high or extremely high water scarcity.
- Major tech companies like Amazon and Google are implementing water stewardship projects.
- Amazon aims to return over 5.8 billion gallons of water annually through its projects.
- Google plans to replenish over 19 billion gallons of water annually by 2030 through its initiatives.
While concerns about the global water impact of AI data centers are often overstated, their concentrated use can place significant strain on local water resources. A Meta data center in Newton County, Georgia, for example, consumes about 10 percent of the county's total water supply. In the Potomac River Basin, data centers currently account for 8 percent of water consumption, a figure projected to rise to 29 percent by 2050 if current trends continue.
These localized impacts are particularly acute in regions already facing water stress. A Business Insider report indicated that 40 percent of planned and existing data centers in the U.S. are situated in areas classified as having high or extremely high water scarcity.
In response to these concerns and to project an image of environmental responsibility, major technology companies are actively promoting their water efficiency efforts. Amazon states it operates data centers at higher temperatures to reduce water usage for cooling and is funding projects expected to return over 5.8 billion gallons of water annually to local communities. Google has outlined 165 water stewardship projects aimed at replenishing more than 19 billion gallons of water annually by 2030.