Despite a new law, conservationists are worried about AI water use in Utah

Utah has passed the Data Center Water Transparency Amendments, a new law requiring data centers to provide state officials with an estimate of their future water use. This legislation makes Utah one of the first states to implement such a requirement for new data facilities. The move comes amid growing concerns from conservationists about the massive water demands of data centers, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence systems. Zach Frankel, executive director of the Utah Rivers Council and Great Salt Lake Waterkeeper, voiced strong reservations despite the new law. He argued that while estimates are required, actual water use records remain secret, preventing the public and local officials from fully understanding the impact. Frankel highlighted that two data centers could consume as much water as a city of 100,000 people, potentially tripling water usage in some rural communities already grappling with severe drought and a struggling Great Salt Lake. The data center industry has labeled these regulations as "burdensome" and warned of potential hindrances to economic growth. However, Frankel countered that the promised job creation is largely limited to the construction phase, with very few permanent positions once facilities are operational. He emphasized that the substantial demand for water and power makes data centers a questionable long-term growth investment compared to traditional residential or commercial development.