A recent study highlights the growing difficulty of tracking data center water use. Much of this operational information remains unavailable to the public. This lack of data creates significant planning challenges for communities located in water-scarce regions.
Facilities utilize massive amounts of water to cool computer servers. The current data gap includes both direct facility usage and indirect consumption tied to electricity generation. United States facilities consumed an estimated 17 billion gallons of water in 2023. Demand continues to rise sharply alongside the expansion of artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
Utilities and technology companies rarely disclose consistent, detailed reporting on consumption. This lack of transparency heavily impacts fast-growing, water-stressed regions like Nevada and Arizona. Policymakers and local utilities require reliable information to write evidence-based regulations.
The authors argue that making data centers sustainable amid growing demand will require a cooperative effort among public agencies, the technology sector, and the communities they operate in — and that rigorous monitoring of environmental impact is essential for ensuring AI development genuinely serves broader societal progress. Their call is clear: better data, better disclosure, and better integration of water planning into the decisions that shape where and how data centers are built.
Access the full study to review the impacts of tech infrastructure on regional water supplies.
