Data centers' demand is escalating due to artificial intelligence technology, leading to increased water usage. In 2023, U.S. data centers consumed 17 billion gallons of water directly for cooling and an additional 211 billion gallons indirectly for electricity production. Forecasts suggest these figures could double or quadruple by 2028. The Great Lakes region is being targeted for data centers because of its cool climate and water availability. The water usage for electricity strongly depends on the energy source, with fossil fuels consuming more compared to renewable energy.
Data centers use water directly, with cooling water pumped through pipes in and around the computer equipment. They also use water indirectly, through the water required to produce the electricity to power the facility.
A 2024 report from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimated that in 2023, U.S. data centers consumed 17 billion gallons of water directly through cooling, and projects that by 2028, those figures could double - or even quadruple.
The Great Lakes region offers a relatively cool climate and an abundance of water, making the region an attractive location for hot and thirsty data centers.
The amount of water used to produce electricity increases dramatically when the source is fossil fuels compared with solar or wind.
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