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Artificial Intelligence Expansion Requires Water - Local Communities Face the Cost

The potential fate of artificial intelligence hinges upon the impending water scarcity in your municipality.

Artificial Intelligence Prosperity Demands Water - Communities Suffer the Consequences
Artificial Intelligence Prosperity Demands Water - Communities Suffer the Consequences

Artificial Intelligence Expansion Requires Water - Local Communities Face the Cost

In rural Newton County, Georgia, a water crisis is unfolding due to the increasing presence of AI data centers. Mike Hopkins, the executive director of the Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority, has stated that he's seeing applications for new data centers requesting up to 6 million gallons of water per day, which is causing concern among local residents like the Morrises.

Beverly Morris, a retired couple living in the county, has experienced water issues due to a nearby Meta data center. The Morrises' well has slowed to a trickle, one bathroom doesn't work, and the washing machine sputtered out. Despite spending $5,000 trying to fix the problem, replacing their well would cost five times that and they don't have the money. Three of their neighbours also report similar water issues, adding to their worry.

Mrs. Morris expressed her fear, stating that she is scared to drink their own water due to the issues. The situation is so severe that they are considering moving out of their home.

The issue of water consumption by AI data centers is not unique to Newton County. In the Netherlands, a Microsoft data center consumed 84 million liters of drinking water, much higher than the estimated 12-20 million liters. Companies often prioritise locations with cheap energy over large water availability for data centers, which is a concern as data centers in Texas consumed 463 million gallons in recent years amid worsening drought conditions.

To mitigate the impact, companies and planners are moving toward cooling methods that consume less or no water. This includes adopting air or liquid cooling systems, recycling and reusing water, and siting data centers in cooler climates or near water sources that can sustainably support high cooling demands. Avoiding drought-affected areas also helps maintain water availability for communities.

The intense evaporation of water in cooling systems, up to 80% of drawn water, is a major concern. To address this, exploration of closed-loop or non-evaporative cooling is being considered to reduce losses. Companies like Google are supporting over 100 projects to improve irrigation efficiency and reduce water waste.

Transparent reporting of water usage is necessary for governments to make informed decisions. Policymakers should treat water as a critical and finite resource, not a disposable afterthought. In Uruguay, Google's plan to build a data center that would consume 7.6 million liters of potable water per day sparked widespread public outrage.

It's crucial that measures are taken to ensure the sustainability of water resources in the face of increasing data center demands. This includes improving water use efficiency, adopting alternative cooling technologies, and supporting water conservation projects. Selection of data center locations should increasingly consider water sustainability by avoiding drought-prone regions and prioritizing sites with ample, renewable water resources.

In conclusion, addressing water sustainability in AI data centers involves technological upgrades, strategic siting decisions that account for local water risk and supply, and corporate stewardship projects aiming to balance operational demand with regional water conservation goals.

  1. The water crisis in rural Newton County, Georgia, is associated with an increase in AI data centers, causing concern over water consumption.
  2. Mike Hopkins, the executive director of the Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority, has expressed concern over the growing number of data center applications requesting large amounts of water.
  3. Local residents, like the Morrises, have experienced water issues due to nearby AI data centers, such as slow wells, malfunctioning appliances, and high repair costs.
  4. The water consumption issue by AI data centers isn't limited to Newton County, as seen in the Netherlands where a Microsoft data center consumed 84 million liters of drinking water.
  5. Companies often prioritize locations with low energy costs over large water availability for data centers, but this pattern is a concern as it could exacerbate water shortages, as shown in Texas.
  6. To alleviate the impact, companies and planners are moving toward cooling methods that consume less or no water, such as air or liquid cooling systems and recycling water.
  7. The intense evaporation of water in cooling systems is a major concern, with up to 80% of drawn water being lost. To address this, companies are exploring closed-loop or non-evaporative cooling.
  8. Transparent reporting of water usage by companies is important for governments to make informed decisions on water management and policy-and-legislation concerning water resources.
  9. It is crucial to ensure the sustainability of water resources in the face of increasing data center demands through improvements in water use efficiency, adopting alternative cooling technologies, and focusing on water conservation projects in the selection of data center locations.

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