AI data centers strain water supplies in drought-prone US regions
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AI data centers are consuming growing amounts of water for cooling, with researchers estimating 66 billion liters used in 2023. Protests have erupted in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona over water and energy use. Experts say the impact is small nationally but significant in drought-stressed areas.
Key Facts
- Data center cooling systems consumed 66 billion liters of water in 2023, less than 1 percent of total US consumption.
- Protests against data center expansion have occurred in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
- Google estimated in 2025 that processing a median-length query with its Gemini chatbot uses five drops of water.
- Processors inside data centers can reach internal temperatures of up to 176 degrees Fahrenheit.
Water Consumption Trends
AI's water footprint is growing, but location and cooling technology make a difference. Many data centers rely at least partly on water to absorb heat from air or surfaces, with cooling occurring as it evaporates. Researchers have estimated that data center cooling systems consumed 66 billion liters of water in 2023, less than 1 percent of the nation's total consumption. That figure could considerably rise with the rapid buildout of AI data centers, which may not be a big problem for water-rich regions but could significantly add to local water stress in drought-strapped places like New Mexico and Arizona.
Efficiency Improvements
Recent advances in AI technology have already reduced water demand for many data centers. Electrical and computer engineer Shaolei Ren of the University of California, Riverside, says that an estimate he made based on GPT-4 in 2024—that drafting a short email would consume 500 milliliters of water—is already outdated because AI models have become more efficient. In 2025, Google estimated that five drops of water are spent on processing a median-length query with its chatbot Gemini. But even tiny amounts add up, given the rise in AI use.
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AI data centers strain water supplies in drought-prone US regions
