Key facts
- US cities are restricting AI data center development due to water and energy concerns.
- Global data center water consumption could nearly triple by 2030 without mitigation.
- Power plants serving data centers withdraw 3.4 trillion gallons of freshwater annually.
- 66% of power plants in seven key states face medium to high water stress.
- Major operators like AWS, Meta, and Microsoft aim to be water positive by 2030.
Cities across the United States are increasingly restricting the development of new AI data centers due to mounting concerns over their substantial water and energy consumption. This trend highlights a growing conflict between the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure and the sustainability of local resources.
Studies project a significant increase in data center water usage. Rystad Energy estimates that global water consumption by data centers could nearly triple from 222 billion liters in 2025 to almost 644 billion liters annually by 2030, if water-saving measures are not widely adopted. However, aggressive mitigation strategies could potentially reduce this demand to as low as 388 billion liters per year.
The water footprint of data centers is complex, influenced by cooling technologies, climate, and the water intensity of the electricity supply. While AI servers generate more heat, advancements like rack-level liquid cooling can mitigate the need for facility-level water-intensive cooling systems. The indirect water footprint embedded in electricity generation can also be substantial, particularly in regions with high water stress.
Major data center operators, including Amazon Web Services, Meta, and Microsoft, have committed to becoming 'water positive' by 2030, aiming to replenish more water than they consume. These efforts are often focused on areas facing high water stress, but the impact on local resources varies.
Regulatory efforts are emerging, with the EU planning a Data Center Energy Efficiency package and Singapore implementing a Green Data Center Roadmap. In the US, regulations vary by state, and some areas, like Texas, have imposed moratoriums on new data center approvals pending audits of their resource usage. Regions with high water stress are expected to account for a significant portion of future data center water consumption, underscoring the need for technology standards and efficient cooling solutions.