US EditionData Centers Consume Massive Amounts of Water. Companies Rarely Tell the Public Exactly How Much
- Data centers need large amounts of water for cooling and electricity production, with a report estimating 17 billion gallons used directly in 2023 in the U.S. alone.
- Data centers also require an estimated 211 billion gallons of water indirectly for electricity production, particularly from fossil fuels.
- The Great Lakes region is attractive for data centers due to its cool climate and plentiful water, which may deplete local groundwater aquifers, impacting millions reliant on these resources.
- Technology companies do not consistently disclose water consumption details, leading to a lack of transparency about their impact on local communities and groundwater.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Data centers consume massive amounts of water – companies rarely tell the public exactly how much
As demand for artificial intelligence technology boosts construction and proposed construction of data centers around the world, those computers require not just electricity and land, but also a significant amount of water. Data centers use water directly, with cooling water pumped through pipes in and around the computer equipment. They also use water indirectly, through the water required to produce the electricity to power the facility. The a…
Data centers consume massive amounts of water. Companies rarely tell the public exactly how much
As demand for artificial intelligence technology boosts construction and proposed construction of data centers around the world, those computers require not just electricity and land, but also a significant amount of water. Data centers use water directly, with cooling water pumped through pipes in and around the computer equipment. They also use water indirectly, through the water required to produce the electricity to power the facility. The a…
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Data centers consume massive amounts of water – companies rarely tell the public exactly how much
The Columbia River running through The Dalles, Oregon, supplies water to cool data centers. AP Photo/Andrew SelskyAs demand for artificial intelligence technology boosts construction and proposed construction of data centers around the world, those computers require not just electricity and land, but also a significant amount of water. Data centers use water directly, with cooling water pumped through pipes in and around the computer equipment. …
Data centers consume massive amounts of water – companies rarely tell the public exactly how much.
August 19, 2025 , Peyton McCauley and Melissa Scanlan As demand for artificial intelligence technology boosts construction and proposed construction of data centers around the world, those computers require not just electricity and land, but also a significant amount of water. Data centers use water directly, with cooling water pumped through pipes in and around the computer equipment. They also use water indirectly, through the water required t…
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