Data Centers in The Dalles, Oregon, Face Scrutiny Over High Water Consumption
AI data centers, particularly those of Google and Amazon in The Dalles, Oregon, are consuming vast amounts of water, raising significant environmental concerns among local residents. The community worries about the impact on the Columbia River, salmon populations, and limited water resources, leading to a push for greater transparency from developers.
The increasing water consumption by AI data centers, particularly in The Dalles, Oregon, is raising significant environmental concerns among residents. Google, which built its first large data center in The Dalles in 2006, reversed a long-standing policy to disclose its water usage, revealing it used over 550 million gallons of water in the city last year, accounting for 40% of the city's total water consumption. An Amazon hyperscale data center is also under construction in the area.
Community members express fears that the industrial practices of data centers, including heating water and concentrating contaminants through evaporation, are altering the food supply chain and negatively impacting the Columbia River and salmon populations. Residents like those featured in the report are worried about the river's declining levels due to climate change and the scarcity of clean drinking water for homes.
A representative from a data center company stated their aim is for facilities to integrate into communities without bothering neighbors, claiming designs are thoughtful to avoid sound, water use, and pollution. However, the report highlights a "real fight" in Oregon over transparency regarding resource usage. Experts suggest communities need to proactively understand how these companies use resources and their potential future impacts, emphasizing the rapid growth of data centers and the urgent need for foresight.