The article discusses the construction boom of data centers in the United States to meet the expanding computational demands of artificial intelligence (AI). These data centers require millions of gallons of water for cooling, raising concerns about water supplies and groundwater safety in water-stressed cities where many of these facilities are being built. The article also highlights the different types of data centers and their water usage, with hyperscale centers that power AI consuming significantly more water than non-hyperscale facilities.
Furthermore, the article addresses the risk of contamination from cooling system additives leaching into groundwater, such as forever chemicals like PFAS. It emphasizes the importance of comprehensive environmental impact assessments before constructing data centers to prevent long-term environmental damage and costly remediation efforts. The growing number of data centers and their impact on local water supplies are of concern to experts, especially in areas like Las Vegas where large facilities are being planned or built.
Moreover, the article mentions the indirect water usage of data centers through non-renewable electricity generation and the increasing demand for AI-capable support locations. The need for these facilities is predicted to grow significantly in the coming years, posing a challenge for sustainable water management in water-stressed regions. Despite being the driest state in America, Nevada, also known as the Silver State, is seeing a significant increase in the construction of data centers. Research from Toro reveals that there are currently 44 new data center facilities either announced or under construction in Nevada.
“The rapid growth of data centers has created competition between population growth, suburban expansion, and the development of these energy and water-intensive facilities,” Lehmann stated. He emphasized the importance of transparency from developers and companies owning these facilities to address concerns about water consumption.
Some tech experts, like Arnold Pinkhasov from OSLabs, share these concerns. Pinkhasov highlighted issues such as the strain on local infrastructure, potential harm to wildlife, and thermal pollution caused by returning water used for cooling at higher temperatures.
To address the intersection of growth and water usage, many in the data center industry are taking steps to mitigate their water footprint. Jon Hukill from the Data Center Coalition explained that factors like water availability and climate influence cooling systems, and strategies employed by data centers to minimize water usage.
While regulations on water usage at data centers vary from state to state, Virginia, home to a large data center market, currently lacks statewide regulation on water usage. Localities are left to make their own decisions on regulating data center water usage, with recent legislation vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Despite the lack of overarching regulation, data centers are actively investing in technologies to reduce water consumption. Innovations such as waterless cooling and using recycled water are being adopted by many data centers to minimize their impact on local water resources.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) stands out as a leader in preserving freshwater resources, with a commitment to being “water positive” by 2030. AWS focuses on using sustainable water sources like recycling and rainwater harvesting and has invested in water recycling infrastructure in states like California.
Other tech giants, such as Google and Microsoft, are also making strides in reducing water consumption at their data centers. Google uses reclaimed or non-potable water at a significant portion of its facilities, while Microsoft has developed water-free cooling methods for its AI-related workloads.
Overall, the data center industry is making progress towards more sustainable water management practices, with companies like AWS leading the way in preserving freshwater resources for future generations.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) to Replenish Over 9 Billion Liters of Water Annually
According to a spokesperson, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is set to replenish over 9 billion liters of water annually through its global projects once completed.
Earlier this year, AWS announced its plans to expand water recycling efforts at data centers in more than 120 locations across the United States.
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