The AI Boom Could Triple Data Center Water Use by 2030
The massive data center capacity scale-up underway has focused attention on the scale of water required for these facilities to operate. Rystad Energy estimates that without water-saving measures in place, global water consumption by data centers could rise to 644 billion liters per year by 2030. However, active mitigation could reduce demand to 388 billion liters, representing worst- and…
The surge in artificial intelligence applications is projected to cause a tripling of global data center water usage by 2030, according to Rystad Energy projections. Without implementing water-saving measures, consumption could reach 644 billion liters annually. However, proactive measures could cut demand to 388 billion liters, contingent on factors such as cooling technology, climate, and whether measured directly or indirectly.
Data centers consumed 222 billion liters of water for cooling in 2025, which could nearly triple to nearly 644 billion liters by the end of the decade in the most realistic scenario. Enhanced water-efficient strategies could reduce this to 543 billion liters in a moderate case or 388 billion liters with aggressive water conservation efforts.
While AI servers generate more heat, liquid cooling can lower overall water consumption by alleviating heat burden on facility-level systems. Technologies like NVIDIA's Vera Rubin platform may help limit water usage, although savings depend heavily on climate conditions, with dry cooling being more effective in colder regions. Water-use effectiveness (WUE), measuring water used per unit of IT energy, is a key metric to consider, as water-saving technologies may require more electricity.
The indirect water footprint, attributable to electricity supply water intensity, can be substantial, often exceeding direct consumption, particularly in regions with water-intensive electricity generation. Operator choices further complicate the picture, as water use efficiency standards are absent in many regions, leading to varied practices even within similar climate zones.
AWS, Meta, Microsoft, and Google, the major data center operators, have set targets to enhance water sustainability by 2030, aiming to become water positive. However, these initiatives' impact varies based on geographic location and water stress levels. Emerging regulations, such as the EU's Data Center Energy Efficiency package and Singapore's Green Data Center Roadmap, signal a growing emphasis on water efficiency, but enforcement remains a challenge.
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