The Real Scope of AI’s Water Consumption

Residents from Texas to Arizona are protesting the rapid growth of data centers, citing concerns over water use, energy demand, and pollution. These facilities rely heavily on evaporative cooling to manage the intense heat generated by processors, which can reach up to 176°F internally. However, the true scale of water consumption remains unclear, as online claims range from 500 ml per chatbot query to no impact at all, and tech companies' own data is often incomplete and inconsistent.