08-19-2026IMPACT COUNCIL

AI’s water problems run deep

The water footprint everyone’s tracking may only be a fraction of what AI’s growth actually costs communities and infrastructure.

[Photo: Getty Images]

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By now, most people understand AI requires enormous computing power and energy. U.S. data centers consumed about 183 TWh of electricity in 2024. That’s more than 4% of total U.S. electricity use in 2024, and demand is projected to more than double by 2030.

Although the conversation around AI’s water usage footprint has started, it’s focused on the wrong part of the problem.

Water is essential for cooling data centers and keeping servers operational. Water moves through pipes next to the equipment to absorb that heat, then carries it away to cooling systems so the servers don’t overheat and shut down. Water is often the most efficient way to cool infrastructure. Some facilities consume millions of gallons daily, and AI expansion is accelerating this demand dramatically.

But that is not the only issue. Electricity generation and chip manufacturing also use an extensive amount of water. Yet, few are focused on that issue.

Beyond the data center

Even as major chipmakers announce initiatives to reduce data center water consumption, research shows that water used outside the data center in electricity generation and chip manufacturing can double or triple a facility’s total water footprint. That means the solutions getting the most attention may only address one-quarter to one-third of AI’s actual water impact.

Most leaders aren’t planning for the rest of the supply chain at a moment when the world is already........

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