Water UK Warns AI Datacentres Could Lift Daily Water Use to 19.8 Million Litres
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 21
Water UK Warns AI Datacentres Could Lift Daily Water Use to 19.8 Million Litres
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 21
Summary
Water UK told MPs the government’s AI growth plans and water forecasts are “fatally flawed” because they explicitly exclude datacentre demand, even as ministers aim to triple UK datacentre capacity by 2030.
19.8 million litres a day of drinking water could be needed by datacentres in England by 2030, up from 6.6 million now, because current permitting requires them to use potable water for cooling.
More than three-quarters of datacentres are in the water-stressed south and east of England, and about 125 are proposed or being built in Affinity Water’s region, where some sites seek up to 3 million litres a day.
A 220 million-litre daily water deficit already exceeds official forecasts, while a House of Lords report warned England could face a 5 billion-litre shortfall for public supplies by 2055.
The dispute sharpens pressure on ministers to set drought priorities and publish a delayed AI policy statement, as campaigners warn critical-infrastructure status could leave datacentres favored over households during shortages.
As AI demands millions of litres of water, will UK homes be left with dry taps during the next drought?
Can 'waterless' tech solve the datacentre crisis, or does it just shift the environmental burden elsewhere?
Thirsty for Intelligence: The Water Demands of AI Data Centres and the Risk to UK and Global Water Security
Overview
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is driving an unprecedented demand for computing power, leading to a surge in data centre construction. These energy-intensive facilities are extracting vast quantities of water, often from regions already facing scarcity, as their water use outpaces natural replenishment. This creates a significant challenge for environmental sustainability and puts AI data centres at odds with net-zero goals. The technological revolution behind AI is quietly increasing pressure on water resources, highlighting the urgent need for better management and transparency to balance innovation with environmental responsibility.