Water Behind the Watts: The Hidden Risk of Powering Data Centers

Data centers in Virginia, Texas, California, Illinois, Georgia, Ohio, and Arizona use about 3.4 trillion gallons of freshwater annually for electricity, exceeding the combined use of Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. Seventy-eight percent of their power comes from water-intensive plants, 66% of which operate in regions with medium-high to extremely high water stress. Few operators assess these water risks, despite AI expansion driving demand for clean, water-efficient energy.