China’s data centers consume approximately 1.3 billion cubic meters (343 billion gallons) of water each year, a quantity adequate to fulfill the residential requirements of 26 million people. This trend of escalating water usage for powering artificial intelligence and data centers raises concerns about potential strain on China’s water supply, according to the non-profit organization China Water Risk.
The primary cause of this immense water usage is the necessity for cooling the IT equipment, as the operation of data centers generates substantial heat. Despite the potential environmental strain, water remains the predominant cooling medium due to its efficiency and affordability.
Impact on Water Supply and Efficiency
As China’s digital infrastructure continues to grow, worries about the impact on the country’s supply of water are becoming more and more pressing. Data centers that use less water are becoming more and more important in reducing water stress.
To illustrate the substantial water footprint of these facilities, Google’s data center fleet alone used 4.3 billion gallons of water in 2021. Data center water use in China is expected to increase dramatically; estimates suggest that by 2030, there may be a need exceeding 3 billion cubic meters.
Environmental Implications and Emissions
In addition to putting strain on water supplies, the growth of data centers exacerbates environmental problems like carbon emissions. Researchers warn that in the absence of expedited measures to reduce emissions, data center emissions might climb by 2.5 times by 2030, reaching the level of the United Kingdom’s current energy-related emissions. This pattern could exacerbate water scarcity and contribute to global warming, increasing the risks for data centers that rely heavily on water.
Impact of AI and ChatGPT on Water Consumption
The use of water has also increased as a result of the development of artificial intelligence, which includes chatbots like ChatGPT. Research shows that ChatGPT’s cooling system needs a large amount of water intake; roughly 500 milliliters are used for every conversation.
Given the speed at which AI technologies—chatbots in particular—are being adopted, the total water consumption may be significant. The introduction of AI chatbots by big tech companies has further intensified this trend, suggesting that there may be a boom in water demand linked with these advancements.
The rapid expansion of data centers and AI technologies is putting immense pressure on water resources and exacerbating environmental challenges. Urgent action is needed to adopt water-efficient practices and curb emissions from data centers to ensure a sustainable future.