Water Required: Why data centers use so much water in Southern Nevada
Data centers in Southern Nevada face scrutiny over their significant water consumption, particularly for evaporative cooling. The Southern Nevada Water Authority has enacted a moratorium on traditional evaporative cooling for new developments, prompting some facilities to adopt water-saving technologies. Local residents have protested, demanding a broader data center moratorium due to concerns about water scarcity amidst shrinking Lake Mead.
KTNV Las Vegas launched a series titled "Data vs. Desert" to examine the growing demand for data centers in Southern Nevada and their substantial water usage, a critical concern given the shrinking Lake Mead. Evaporative cooling technology, commonly used by data centers and other large commercial buildings, accounts for nearly 10% of the region's Colorado River water allocation.
Specific examples highlighted include Google's data center in Henderson, which used over 404 million gallons in 2025, and Switch's campus in Clark County, which consumed over 339 million gallons and recently received zoning approval for expansion. In response to water scarcity, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) enacted a moratorium in 2021 on traditional evaporative cooling for new developments, requiring facilities to adopt water-smart strategies. NOVVA's data center in North Las Vegas exemplifies this shift, using a closed-loop system that required only 551,000 gallons in 2025.
A report by the Desert Research Institute found that twelve planned data center projects in Nevada could consume over three billion gallons of water annually by 2033, including water for electricity generation, which can exceed cooling needs. Despite economic benefits like jobs and tax revenue, residents like Drake York and Paige Masmore expressed strong opposition at a July protest, demanding a data center moratorium due to concerns about depleting local water resources.