Opinion: Data centers must disclose how much water they're consuming

"In Silicon Valley, more than 55 data centers operate in the city of Santa Clara alone, and more have already been approved, according to the city. As generative AI floods into multiple aspects of our lives (work, health care, education, entertainment, access to information, companionship, national security, etc.), the need for powerful data centers grows. Some are cooled with air; some use recycled water; many, however, require drinking-quality water for cooling."

"ultra-pure water, for example, is needed for the manufacturing of the chips used in the servers running in data centers, and, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, [c]reating ultrapure water is a highly water-intensive process itself.) A 2024 report from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory noted that in 2014 data centers consumed 21.2 billion liters of water, and that, in 2028, data centers optimized for AI are anticipated to require between 60 and 124 billion liters."

"In some parts of the world, the rising demand for water for data centers has clashed with the demand for drinking water for people. Protests and boycotts related to data center water consumption have taken place in India, Uruguay, Chile, and Spain, among other places. In the Spanish region of Aragon, one activist collective calls itself Tu Nube Seca Mi Rio: Your Cloud Is Drying My River."

The heat is starting to break, but plants remain wilted and water remains precious in California and other Western states. Data centers are proliferating in Silicon Valley, with more than 55 operating in Santa Clara and additional sites approved. Generative AI expansion drives demand for powerful data centers. Cooling often requires drinking-quality water, while chip manufacturing needs ultrapure water, a highly water-intensive process. A 2024 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report noted data center water use was 21.2 billion liters in 2014 and AI-optimized centers may demand 60–124 billion liters by 2028. Rising demand has provoked protests and regulatory concern worldwide.

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