The global rise of AI has made data centres some of the largest consumers of water worldwide. Millions of litres are used daily to cool servers, raising concerns about water scarcity.
Each AI chatbot response consumes around 500 millilitres of clean drinking water. While this seems small per interaction, billions of daily queries add up to enormous usage.
Research shows a single data centre uses about 200 million litres of water each day. That amounts to roughly nine billion litres per month or over 100 billion litres per year—enough to supply millions of people in a major city.
Thousands of powerful servers inside these facilities generate massive heat continuously. To prevent overheating and maintain efficiency, most data centres rely on water-based cooling systems.
The largest AI hubs are located in countries including the United States, China, Ireland, Spain, Singapore, and the Netherlands. Many of these nations already face water shortages, creating sustainability concerns.
Experts warn that diverting large amounts of water to AI infrastructure could worsen drinking water and agricultural shortages. Rising global temperatures and population growth further intensify these risks.
Environmentalists urge urgent international regulations to manage water use by the tech industry. Without global action, they caution, communities may face deeper crises in access to safe drinking water.
Campaigners stress that AI development must be balanced with sustainable resource management. If not carefully regulated, rapid technological growth could harm both human populations and the environment.
As AI adoption continues, governments and companies are being called upon to implement measures that reduce water consumption. Sustainable cooling solutions and efficient water management are essential to prevent future crises.
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