How Much Water Do Data Centers Use?
News Clip0:49Texas Scorecard·TX·5/6/2026
Data centers in Texas are projected to consume increasing amounts of water, raising concerns among taxpayers and local communities about long-term supply and water bills. The video questions whether the state adequately assesses and discloses the water usage of these facilities when issuing permits. A specific large project by OpenAI in Abilene is highlighted as an example of significant water demand.
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OpenAI
Gov: Texas State Government
The video highlights data centers as a significant new demand on water resources in Texas, a state already facing water challenges like rationing in Corpus Christi.
According to the report, there are currently 400 data centers operating or under construction across Texas. These facilities are estimated to have consumed 49 billion gallons of water in 2025, with projections indicating this figure could escalate dramatically to 399 billion gallons by 2030.
A mega campus, such as OpenAI's Project Stargate 1 in Abilene, is cited as an example, capable of drawing millions of gallons of water daily. The video raises a critical question regarding the state's permitting process: whether state authorities are approving these facilities without adequately understanding or disclosing their substantial water requirements to the public.