Map Shows Where Data Centers Are Being Built in Drought-Hit Areas
A surge in new AI data center construction is occurring across drought-stricken regions of the U.S., intensifying concerns about water scarcity and environmental strain. These facilities consume millions of gallons of water daily, exacerbating existing drought conditions and potentially impacting local communities. Community opposition in Bessemer, Alabama, has temporarily halted one such project due to its projected water usage.
A wave of new artificial intelligence (AI) data centers is being built across drought-affected areas of the U.S., prompting significant concerns about water supplies in already strained regions. Over 60 percent of the U.S. is currently experiencing drought conditions, while data centers can consume millions of gallons of water daily.
More than 50 data centers are under construction, with a notable concentration in the drought-prone South, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. Projects are also underway in the Northeast and Midwest. Ayse Coskun, director of the Center for Information and Systems Engineering at Boston University, noted that Southern states are attractive for development due to land availability and tax incentives, but are vulnerable to heat stress and water shortages, leading to increased cooling and electricity demands.
Data centers' vast water consumption, estimated at 450 million gallons daily across the U.S., creates competition for limited supplies. Benjamin Lee, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, highlighted how powerful computer systems generate heat requiring substantial cooling. Researchers have also pointed to environmental justice issues, with data center development disproportionately affecting working-class, Black, and Latino communities. In Bessemer, Alabama, community opposition temporarily halted construction of a data center projected to require 2 million gallons of water daily.
Experts warn that without stronger oversight, long-term planning, and the adoption of more sustainable cooling technologies, the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure could deepen water shortages and exacerbate environmental inequalities in host communities.