Data centers used for artificial intelligence are consuming significantly more water than disclosed by major technology companies, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
Undisclosed Environmental Impact
The core issue is not just the server cooling process, but also the water required to generate the electricity that keeps all this infrastructure operational. With the rapid expansion of AI, corporations like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have expanded their global network of data centers. However, a significant portion of the environmental cost remains outside official reports.
These documents tend to account only for the water used directly within the data centers themselves. Nevertheless, there is a secondary consumption associated with the power plants that support these operations, and this can far exceed direct usage. Studies conducted in the United States suggest that this indirect consumption can reach up to twelve times the declared value, depending on the composition of the energy matrix used.
The Relationship Between Energy and Water
The magnitude of this impact varies drastically depending on the energy source. Plants powered by coal and nuclear energy demand large volumes of water for cooling purposes. In contrast, the use of natural gas reduces this need, while solar and wind sources have virtually no water dependency.
A study mentioned in the article indicates that, specifically in the case of Google, the indirect consumption can be approximately three times greater than the direct consumption. It is important to note that server cooling constitutes the most evident expense, but energy generation has the potential to substantially increase the total impact. Fossil fuels intensify the demand for water, while renewable sources minimize this consumption almost completely. Furthermore, a considerable share of the real impact is not included in corporate statements.
Transparency and Regulation Issues
Currently, there is no legal requirement forcing companies to disclose all water consumption related to AI. This lack of regulation allows criticism from experts and environmental agencies, who frequently point to underreporting of data. Meta, for example, has already admitted that its indirect consumption can exceed twenty times the direct consumption. Despite this, most companies continue to focus their reports only on the internal use of data centers.
Search for Sustainable Solutions
To mitigate this impact, companies are investing in closed-loop cooling systems, which allow for water reuse instead of continuous discharge. Nvidia claims that this technology has the potential to eliminate almost all direct water consumption in new installations, and Microsoft also foresees the adoption of similar methods in the coming years. Even with these innovations, much of the existing infrastructure still relies on evaporative systems, which, although energy efficient, consume more water.
In summary, the exponential growth of artificial intelligence establishes a clear dilemma: the greater the computational capacity, the greater the pressure exerted on already scarce natural resources.
