"With their enhanced processing capabilities, large "hyperscale" complexes are the preferred data centers for the computation-heavy training and use of AI models. They can cover an area of over 1 million square feet, roughly equal to 17 football fields. Water is used to maintain humidity and as a coolant for the heat-generating machines, and as American data centers have grown in size and number, so has their water consumption, from 5.6 billion gallons in 2014 to 17.4 billion in 2023."
"In parched Los Angeles, residents are forbidden to hose down their driveways, and risk fines of up to $600 if they trigger their sprinklers on the wrong day. But while Angelenos must curtail their water use, California data centers won't even be forced to disclose their water consumption. Earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have required the facilities, which can guzzle millions of gallons in a single day, to report their water usage."
California residents face strict water restrictions while data centers are not required to disclose water use. Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have mandated water-usage reporting by data centers, citing reluctance to impose operational reporting amid unprecedented demand. Tech companies are investing billions in AI infrastructure and building hyperscale data centers that consume vast quantities of water for humidity control and cooling. U.S. data center water consumption rose from 5.6 billion gallons in 2014 to 17.4 billion in 2023. Nearby communities report strained wells and heavy local water usage by large facilities, with a single center supplying about ten percent of some counties' water.
Read at The Nation
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