It is not always obvious to the person checking their phone for the latest news, the college student querying AI for a research project, or the cashier ringing up a latte at a coffee shop: The technology powering our lives depends on water. Even referring to our data living in “the cloud” doesn’t do justice to the resources it takes to power our always-on society.
Water and technology have become more closely linked over the last few years. There are many statistics available about how much water an AI inquiry uses — does a single ChatGPT conversation really consume half a liter of water? Rather than dwell on what might feel like hyperbole, there’s reason to consider the impacts on communities if the amount of investment coming to this technology pans out. One executive recently said his company planned to spend “trillions” of dollars on data center construction in the coming years.
Advancements like AI and machine learning are growing exponentially year after year; not just in what they can do for society and productivity, but also in the amount of energy and water they demand. According to Ceres, annual water use for electrical consumption in data centers is on track to grow by 400% in the next few years and water needed for cooling is expected to increase 870%, on track to account for more than 18 billion gallons annually. Water stress in already-strained basins will grow 17% each year, with that number anticipated to go up in peak seasons.
Few communities have water or energy to spare, and increasing industrial demand for these resources often targets low-income communities with very little to no public engagement. Economic activity can result from these build-outs, but it comes at a cost to ratepayers.
At the same time, the power of these technological advancements can drive better understanding of the global water cycle, the impact of water policy choices on communities, and even how much water we are using in our own homes. The Water Foundation has been working for over a decade with grantees and funders to help get communities ready to make the most of the growing storehouses of data. We have supported coalitions like the Internet of Water because improving access to water data means increasing the impact that data can have. We have funded powerful tools like OpenET — which uses NASA satellite data to help farmers understand how much water their fields are using — to ensure we are making the most of every drop, especially in critical sectors like agriculture.
There is an illusion of an unlimited supply when it comes to clean water. Most Americans take it for granted that their next glass will pour out of their faucet on demand. But the data tells a different story. When data on water supply, demand, and affordability are limited, it’s more difficult for grassroots organizations to make the case for what they need and design solutions that address inequities in our water systems. Addressing shortcomings in the data creates positive benefits for climate resilience, public health, food systems, and more.
The Water Foundation is committed to both sides of this equation. It’s critical we balance helping our grantees make the most of cutting-edge technology to elevate their work and ensuring the cost of these game-changing improvements isn’t borne by the people and watersheds that can least afford it.