AI Data Centers Could Guzzle As Much Water As NYC by 2030

According to a new study led by Shaolei Ren, associate professor at the University of California, Riverside, AI data centers have an insatiable thirst for water that is straining communities. These data centers generate massive heat, requiring liquid cooling techniques that consume huge amounts of water through evaporative cooling towers - up to over 1 million gallons per day. To address this growing demand, Ren and colleagues recommend requiring data centers to disclose their maximum daily water needs, not just yearly totals, so communities can plan infrastructure accordingly. They also support developing corporate-community partnerships to fund infrastructure upgrades, which is estimated to cost between $10 billion and $58 billion.