US States Regulate Data Centers Over Rising AI Water Use
US government bodies are implementing water disclosures and bans as AI infrastructure drives data center water consumption toward a projected 110 billion gallons by 2030.
The rapid build-out of artificial intelligence infrastructure is causing a surge in water consumption across the United States. Data centers require vast quantities of fresh water for server cooling and electricity generation, with projections suggesting direct annual use could reach 74 billion gallons by 2028 and 110 billion gallons by 2030.
Regional governments are responding to the strain on water-stressed areas, particularly in the western US and California's Imperial County. Governor Kathy Hochul of New York announced a temporary moratorium on data centers to establish regulatory frameworks. Similarly, Utah now requires water usage disclosures for new server farms, and Southern Nevada has banned evaporative cooling in new commercial and industrial buildings.
Tech giants including Microsoft, Alphabet Inc., Meta Platforms Incorporated, and Amazon are investing in efficiency and water restoration goals. Amazon has specifically pledged to return more water to the environment than it withdraws by 2030. In the hardware sector, Nvidia announced a new AI server designed to run cooling liquids at higher temperatures to reduce water requirements. Despite these efforts, researchers and critics argue that nondisclosure agreements continue to obscure the full environmental impact of these facilities.
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