Water crisis in the USA. Artificial intelligence is taking away people’s drinking water

Luc Williams

Regions USA water-stressed areas like Arizona and Texas are the site of construction data centersproduction plants chips and other related infrastructure artificial intelligencewhich need huge quantities water to act – says the report entitled “The Future of Water Resilience in the US” by JPMorgan Chase and the ERM Sustainability Institute. Data centers that are necessary for training artificial intelligence modelsrequire water to cool the server room – often from springs drinking watersays a report cited by Quartz.

A threat to the industry and community

A growing and shifting population USA is a major factor in declining freshwater supply in parts of the United States, says a JPMorgan report. However, “20% of the water currently used by data centers comes from already problematic bodies of water, posing a threat to the technology industry and surrounding communities and the environment.”

Data centers use as much water as a city

According to the report, a medium-sized data center consumes on average about 300,000. gallons of water per day. But larger data centers can use up to 5 million gallons of water each day – the same as a city of 10,000 or more. up to 50 thousand inhabitants. The authors of the report add that in 2023, data centers in the US used over 75 billion gallons of water. Additionally, data centers require chips that require huge amounts of water to produce. The chips also discharge “highly toxic wastewater saturated with chemicals and heavy metals,” according to the report.

Water demand at an alarming level

Climate change and water management issues are already challenging water supplies, but “artificial intelligence and data centers are magnifying the challenge,” said Rama Variankaval, global head of corporate consulting at JPMorgan and lead author of the report, in a statement shared with Quartz.

Mismanaged water “could cause real disruption to global supply chains,” the report said, especially in the artificial intelligence industry where data centers and chips are key businesses. Despite the negative impact on climate goals, this industry will grow rapidly.

The US must invest in water

Investment in water is needed in the United States as “water scarcity and unpredictability” could slow GDP growth by up to 6% in areas already affected by water stress. According to the report, U.S. water infrastructure is missing $91 billion in public spending annually.

About LUC WILLIAMS

Luc's expertise lies in assisting students from a myriad of disciplines to refine and enhance their thesis work with clarity and impact. His methodical approach and the knack for simplifying complex information make him an invaluable ally for any thesis writer.