How much water do AI and data centers really use?
This article discusses the actual water consumption of AI and data centers, noting that widely shared estimates can be misleading due to varying methodologies. Experts clarify that while data centers consume billions of gallons, their demand is significantly less than everyday uses like agriculture and residential water use. The article also highlights the growing electricity consumption of data centers, which is projected to increase substantially by 2028.
As artificial intelligence drives a boom in data center construction, concerns about the facilities' water usage are growing. Experts note that figures shared online about water consumption can be misleading, as they often measure different things, such as only cooling water versus water used for electricity generation, or rely on outdated technology assumptions. Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimate U.S. data centers used about 228 billion gallons of water in 2023, with projections to reach 469-844 billion gallons by 2028. However, AI accounts for only 15-20% of this demand.
The article emphasizes that compared to other nationwide water demands, data centers consume relatively modest amounts. Americans use more water for irrigating lawns, flushing toilets, and producing food (especially meat) than all U.S. data centers combined. For example, producing fodder crops for animal feed consumes 5.5 trillion gallons of irrigation water annually, far exceeding data center use.
Economist David Zetland argues that comparing water usage across different activities is unhelpful, suggesting the real issue is that water is undervalued. He states that the price of water doesn't reflect its true value or the cost of sustainable management. The impact of data centers also varies by location, depending on local electricity grids and water resources. States like Texas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Louisiana, and Idaho are identified as favorable for future development due to access to wind and solar power, which require less water.
Beyond water, electricity consumption is a major environmental concern. Data centers accounted for an estimated 4% of U.S. electricity consumption in 2023, potentially reaching 12% by 2028. This growth strains grids, increases utility bills, and contributes to pollution, disproportionately affecting communities near power plants and data centers. Researchers suggest increased data center activity could lead to hundreds of thousands of asthma symptom cases and over 1,000 premature deaths annually by 2028.