Texas data centers could amount to 9% of the state’s water use by 2040, study finds

A new study from the University of Texas at Austin's Bureau of Economic Geology warns that data centers could account for up to 9% of Texas's total water consumption by 2040. Currently, the industry uses less than 1% of the state's water, but rapid growth, particularly driven by artificial intelligence, could drastically increase demand. The study, titled "Water Use Requirements for Data Centers in Texas," considers water used for cooling computer servers on-site and the significant volumes of water needed to generate electricity from natural gas, coal, or nuclear power plants that fuel these facilities. Mariam Arzumanyan, a postdoctoral fellow at the Bureau of Economic Geology, highlighted the existing uncertainty surrounding data center water use, citing a lack of unified understanding of cooling technologies and their water requirements. The researchers are calling for greater transparency from the industry and state officials. They recommend the establishment of a comprehensive planning framework for water use, emphasizing that Texas's water resources are managed by various entities including cities, private suppliers, and river authorities. The Bureau of Economic Geology's COMPASS research consortium, which developed these estimates, is actively collaborating with industry representatives and state and municipal officials. Their goal is to create a consistent framework for discussing and analyzing water-related issues pertinent to data center development across the state.