AI’s water problems run deep

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 eq...