New study warns data centers create 'perfect storm' for drinking water supply issues

The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) has issued a stark warning regarding the potential for data centers to trigger a "perfect storm" of drinking water supply issues in the region. While public discourse has largely focused on the electricity demands of these facilities, the ICPRB's report highlights the substantial water quantities data centers require for cooling, particularly those powering artificial intelligence. Michael Nardolilli, executive director of the Interstate Commission, emphasized that the combination of increased water demand from data centers and other users, coupled with historically low river flows in summer, presents a critical risk. The Potomac River serves as a vital drinking water source for Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, supplying over 75% of local utility water and acting as the sole source for D.C. and Arlington County's more than 1 million residents. The ICPRB's concern stems from the Potomac basin being home to the largest global concentration of data centers, which intensifies competition for limited resources. A Brookings report noted that a large data center can consume as much water as a town of 50,000 people daily, further underscoring the scale of this issue. Adding to the alarm, a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study revealed that 20% of U.S. data centers rely on water sources already under moderate-to-high stress from drought. The ICPRB stresses that to mitigate the environmental drawbacks of AI and cloud computing, comprehensive discussions involving policymakers, industries, advocacy groups, and citizens are essential to balance competing interests and prevent future water crises.