Water in Florida is precious, but AI data centers will guzzle big amounts

Florida is grappling with a looming water crisis as numerous proposals for hyperscale AI data centers threaten to strain the state's already stressed water resources, particularly during an excessive drought. A single large data center can consume up to 5 million gallons of water daily, competing with residential, agricultural, and environmental needs, including the Florida Aquifer and natural springs. One such proposal in Fort Meade saw its plan approved by the city commission earlier this month. However, the Southwest Florida Water Management District immediately raised concerns, stating the project lacked necessary water permits. The city subsequently amended its plan to address the permit issue. Further criticism came from Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis's administration, with Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly deeming the overall project "fundamentally flawed" and requiring several additional permits. Governor DeSantis had previously proposed an AI "Bill of Rights" aimed at, among other things, enabling local governments to regulate or prevent large-scale data centers. This measure, however, was not taken up by the state House during its special legislative session, effectively halting its progress for now. Other proposed large data centers are located in St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach counties, all facing similar concerns about their substantial water demands. Should water prove insufficient for cooling, data centers may resort to increased electricity use, compounding their environmental impact, a concern highlighted by a study from the University of California-Riverside and Caltech regarding aging public water systems' capacity.