Data centers’ water use is hard to track, raising concerns in the drought-prone West, study finds

A recent study led by the University of Illinois has highlighted a significant challenge in tracking water usage by data centers across the U.S., particularly in the drought-prone Mountain West. As these facilities, which power modern digital infrastructure, rapidly expand, researchers find that crucial information on their water consumption is often not publicly available, impeding effective regional planning. Ana Pinheiro Privette, a co-author of the study, emphasized the critical need for transparency, stating, "If we don’t have the data, if we don’t have the transparency, we’re just walking in the dark right now." The study estimates that U.S. data centers consumed approximately 17 billion gallons of water in 2023, a figure projected to increase sharply with the growing demand for AI and cloud computing. However, consistent and detailed reporting on this water use is rare, as utilities and tech companies frequently do not disclose such data. This lack of transparency poses real consequences for states like Nevada and Arizona, where new data centers are being constructed in areas already facing severe water stress. For communities attempting to plan for future water needs amidst this growth, the absence of reliable data makes informed decision-making difficult for policymakers and utilities. Pinheiro Privette pointed out that policy formulation relies on evidence-based data, which is currently lacking. While data centers' overall water footprint remains smaller than sectors like agriculture, their localized impact can be substantial, placing unforeseen demands on local water supplies. Researchers advocate for enhanced transparency to enable communities to better assess the trade-offs between economic development and sustainable water management, a particularly urgent concern in the arid West.