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Data centers use a lot of water to keep cool. As AI grows, so does the need for water. This could make water shortages in the UK worse.

Water Use in Data Centers

AI-driven data centers need water for cooling. The tech industry is working on using less water. But the government knows these centers are a big problem for sustainability.

The UK wants to build new data centers. This will help grow the economy. But it may hurt clean energy goals and water supplies.

Water Shortages in the UK

Some areas in the UK already face water shortages. This is because of growth and climate change. The government wants to build nine new reservoirs to help with this. But many data centers are planned near these reservoirs. This could make future water supply issues worse.

The first AI growth zone is opening in Culham, Oxfordshire. It is near a proposed reservoir at Abingdon. Thames Water is talking with the government about the water needs of new data centers.

The Growing Need for Water

A report from the Royal Academy of Engineering says the government should set rules for data centers. These rules should track water use and reduce drinking water use. Professor Tom Rodden warns that AI development could harm the environment if there are no rules.

Data centers mostly use mains water. Water use depends on the climate. Cooler areas need less water. Dr. Venkatesh Uddameri says a typical data center can use 11-19 million liters of water every day. This is enough water for a town of 30,000-50,000 people.

Microsoft saw a 34% rise in water use while building AI tools. In Iowa, a data center used 6% of the local water supply in just one month of AI training. Global concerns over water use caused some pushback. Google stopped a data center project in Chile. It also redesigned one in Uruguay.

Concerns About Water Supply

Thames Water in the UK has warned that data centers may face restrictions during heatwaves. Despite monitoring, Foxglove found that Thames Water still doesn’t know how much water data centers use. Thames Water says it can limit commercial water use. But data centers are now called Critical National Infrastructure, so they face fewer restrictions.

In 2021, Thames Water opposed a new data center in Slough. But many more projects have been approved since. In 2024, Yondr announced its third data center in the area, showing growth in the sector.

Foxglove CEO Martha Dark wants the government to explain how data centers will protect long-term water supplies. The government admits sustainability is an issue but says it is investing in areas with existing water infrastructure. New rules from Ofwat will unlock £104 billion for water company investments in five years.

Better Cooling Tech

The tech industry says cooling methods are improving. New methods like free air cooling, dry cooling, and closed-loop cooling are saving water. Microsoft’s new centers in Phoenix and Wisconsin will have designs that use less water.

Digital Realty runs 300 data centers worldwide. It is using AI to save water. Aaron Binckley, the VP of sustainability, estimates AI could save almost 4 million liters of water every year. While projections are still early, Binckley believes AI can help with sustainability and progress.

By 2050, the Environment Agency says England will need 5 billion more liters of water daily. Regulators want data centers to track their water use more closely and find ways to reuse water. One official said, “Managing future water demand is not just the water industry’s job.”