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AI Data Centers and Their Surging Thirst for Water
For communities across the globe, the rapid expansion of AI data centers heralds technological progress and economic growth. However, a new investigation shines a light on an unfolding crisis for residents living close to these massive facilities—particularly when it comes to water security.
A Community's Struggle in the Shadow of AI Infrastructure
In Newton County, Georgia, just outside Atlanta, the Morris family has firsthand experience with the unintended consequences of data center construction. Since Meta (formerly Facebook) began developing a sprawling data facility less than 400 yards from their home in 2018, Beverly and Jeff Morris say their well water has become unreliable—sometimes reduced to a sluggish sludge filled with sediment. Despite spending $5,000 trying to restore service to their taps, two of their bathrooms still run dry, and replacing their well is an unaffordable $25,000 expense.
“It feels like we’re fighting an unwinnable battle that we didn’t sign up for,” said Beverly Morris. Fear of drinking their own water is a daily reality.
Their story, previously highlighted by international outlets like BBC, exemplifies a broader issue now gaining attention beyond Newton County. As AI data centers multiply, the strain on local water supplies deepens, raising urgent environmental concerns and prompting residents and officials to question the tradeoffs of digital innovation.
The Growing Environmental Toll of AI
AI’s rising energy and water consumption are no secret to industry insiders. Generative AI and other advanced data-driven technologies demand powerful computation, resulting in significant resource usage that often remains concealed from the public. Data centers must be kept cool to maintain performance, which typically requires enormous volumes of water—especially in older or less advanced facilities.
According to recent reports, the Meta facility in Newton County consumes an estimated 500,000 gallons of water per day. However, permit filings suggest forthcoming data centers may use several million gallons daily. In one striking case, a Georgia data cluster requested the equivalent water consumption of 30,000 households—around nine million gallons daily.
Product Features and Efficiency Variations
Not all data centers have the same environmental footprint. More advanced operations are exploring water-free cooling systems, leveraging air cooling, or using recycled water. These innovations can significantly reduce their impact on local water supplies—a crucial advantage as droughts become more common and climate pressures intensify. Nonetheless, many companies still prioritize cheap energy availability over water sustainability when selecting locations for their new facilities.
Comparisons, Market Impact, and Community Consequences
The ongoing AI boom means that technology companies are in fierce competition to deploy new data centers, underscoring the infrastructure’s centrality in everything from cloud computing to machine learning applications. By comparison, legacy data centers demand far more water than their modernized, energy-efficient counterparts—putting older communities at greater risk.
Newsha Ajami, a hydrologist and urban water policy expert at Stanford University, warns that data center developers often consider water "an afterthought." While power can be procured from distant plants, water must be sourced locally—often from finite reservoirs like the one supplying Newton County, which is replenished only by rainfall.
As development accelerates, local residents are left bearing the brunt. Mansfield Mayor Blair Northen describes the current crisis as "absolutely terrible," sharing that the area's water rates are projected to soar by a staggering 33%, compared to a previous average of 2% annual increases.
Potential Solutions and the Road Ahead
Newton County is racing against time to upgrade its water recycling and supply facilities—a project that comes with an eye-watering $250 million price tag. According to Mike Hopkins, executive director of the Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority, the Meta data center alone accounts for 10% of the county’s daily water usage. "What the data centers don’t understand is that they’re taking up the community wealth. We just don’t have the water," Hopkins told reporters.
Whether tech giants like Meta will contribute to solving the growing crisis remains unclear. The company claims its own studies found it "unlikely" that their operations directly affected neighboring wells, but local leaders and environmental advocates urge greater responsibility and transparency.
The Broader Picture for Tech and Society
As the digital economy continues its relentless growth, the clash between technological progress and resource sustainability has never been more urgent. Newton County’s predicament is a cautionary tale showing that innovation must go hand-in-hand with responsible environmental management. For the millions worldwide wrestling with similar challenges, the hope lies in the adoption of greener data center technology, transparent resource planning, and collaboration between tech companies and the communities that host them.
Source: nytimes
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