Where does Arizona's water actually go? A look inside the numbers
The article examines Arizona's water use and finds that agriculture, especially alfalfa, accounts for far more consumption than cities, golf courses or data centers. It says data center water use is difficult to isolate, while rising nonresidential water deliveries coinciding with TSMC's expansion suggest broader growth in technology-sector demand.
Agriculture accounts for nearly three-quarters of Arizona's water use, with alfalfa alone consuming about 1 million acre-feet annually. Although urban demand is increasing with population, per-person use has declined significantly, and golf course consumption is below levels recorded two decades ago.
Data center water use is not separately tracked, making its impact difficult to measure. The article reports that power-plant water use has remained stable, while nonresidential water deliveries reached a record high as TSMC came online, suggesting that Arizona's technology sector is contributing to increased water demand. Officials are particularly concerned about Lake Powell falling below a level that could limit downstream deliveries to Lake Mead.