Cooling AI: The water and energy demands behind data centers

AI data centers raise questions about water use, cooling Advertisement Updated: 7:01 PM EST Nov 10, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Michael Sneff Digital Producer AI data centers raise questions about water use, cooling Updated: 7:01 PM EST Nov 10, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Michael Sneff Digital Producer Artificial intelligence can answer a question in seconds, but behind that speed is a physical network of computers, power lines and, in many cases, water. Data centers running AI generate enormous amounts of heat and keeping that equipment cool can place new demands on local water supplies, especially during hot weather or drought. Advertisement Shirley Clarke, a Penn State Harrisburg professor, said cooling is a major issue. “The biggest part that people need to know about air and water is this issue around cooling the computer chips that we use, which take a tremendous amount of water depending on what cooling system we use,” Clarke said. How data centers stay cool When an AI program summarizes a document or answers a question, that work happens on computers housed in data centers. Those computers use electricity, and as they work, their chips give off heat. How that heat is removed can make a major difference in how much water a facility needs. One common method uses water that moves through tubes near the chips to carry heat away. In some systems, that water circulates in a closed loop. But the water can become too warm to reuse directly, so some facilities use cooling towers, where water is sent outside and allowed to evaporate. That breaks the closed loop and requires new water to be added. Hearst Owned WGAL Another option uses fans to move air across equipment, which uses very little water but can require more electricity on very hot days. Experts say the amount of water used can vary widely depending on the model, the length of the response, the location, the weather, the cooling system and the electricity supply. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimated that all U.S. data centers — not just those running AI — directly consumed about 17 billion gallons of water in 2023. Questions for local communities For communities considering a data center, the biggest questions are where the facility would get its water, how much it would need on average and on the hottest days, and what happens when supplies are low. “You know, does it go to the residents to do what? Shower, to clean, to drink, to cook? Or does it go to the data center or is there a balance in there? And that's what many of the parties are going to have to be dealing with and the water systems are gonna have to deal with,” Clarke said. Location also matters. A facility drawing from a small stream or heavily used groundwater source may raise different concerns than one served by a larger supply. Groundwater can also replenish slowly, and even where water is available, a utility may need new pipes, pumps or treatment capacity. There is also debate about using treated wastewater for industrial cooling instead of drinking-water supplies. “The other problem we have with this really is we're just not equipped for it. Oftentimes the data centers are not built next to the treatment plants. So now we'd be looking at running another set of infrastructure to get the wastewater to that,” Clarke said. The question, experts say, is not whether every data center uses the same amount of water. They do not. The question for each community is how a proposed facility will be cooled, where its water and electricity will come from, and what protections will be in place when supplies are under stress. Make WGAL a preferred source on Google Add Preferred Source Share Infinite Scroll Enabled Top Picks Ole Miss student apologizes after video showing women making racist gestures sparks backlash Video: Drone delivers food to ape stranded during Florida flooding Public health alert issued for three frozen meat products, USDA warns Paul McCartney achieves billionaire status, becomes world’s third-richest musician