AI data centers consumed 4.5 trillion liters of water in 2025

A UN University report reveals that electricity generation for data centers consumed 4.5 trillion liters of water in 2025. This volume is equivalent to approximately 1.8 million Olympic-sized swimming pools or the annual domestic water supply required by 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa.

To manage the intense heat produced by the constant operation of artificial intelligence server facilities, operators frequently use evaporative cooling. This method involves pumping local groundwater and allowing it to evaporate, a practice particularly prevalent in water-stressed regions such as the United States, Chile, and Bengaluru. While closed-loop systems offer a more sustainable alternative by recycling water, researchers note that tech companies often resist them due to higher initial setup costs.

Experts warn that the total environmental damage may be significantly underestimated because private tech firms maintain low levels of transparency regarding their resource consumption. Raghavendra Selvan, an assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen, advocated for ensuring all new data centers implement closed-loop cooling. Lead researcher Kaveh Madani emphasized that the objective is not to halt AI development but to promote its responsible and sustainable use.