U.S. Data Centers Triple Water Footprint in Ten Years Amid AI Boom
U.S. data centers consumed approximately 17 billion gallons of water in 2023, a threefold increase from 2014, according to an estimate by the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS). This surge in water usage predates the full impact of the AI boom, which began with the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT at the end of 2022, leading to a massive increase in data center construction. Many new data halls are equipped with specialized AI hardware that demands significantly more power and, consequently, more cooling. While direct water use for thermal regulation at facilities accounts for a relatively small proportion (about 2%) of total U.S. water consumption, indirect water consumption from electricity generation makes up over 80% of a data center's overall water footprint. The CRS report notes that the federal government does not systematically assess all water use by the industry, partly because water usage data is often collected at the state level, and water service agreements can limit disclosure. 
