Polish Data Centers Confront Growing Water Demand as AI Workloads Expand

Large data centers can consume up to 19 million litres of water per day – roughly the amount used by a medium‑sized city. In Poland, the surge in artificial‑intelligence applications is driving higher power densities (30‑80 kW per rack, with some configurations exceeding 100 kW), which in turn raises water usage and prompts a shift toward liquid‑cooling and direct‑to‑chip solutions that require precise water management.

A report by the Polish Data Center Association and PwC Polska notes that 89 % of industry representatives now consider environmental criteria, including water efficiency, a key factor when locating new facilities. Similar concerns have sparked protests in Spain’s Aragon and Dublin over water pressure from data‑center expansion.

Technorealist Aleksandra Przegalińska warns that the rapid spread of generative AI brings real‑world risks – from deep‑fakes to propaganda – and underscores the need for regulation. She highlights the environmental footprint of data centers as part of the broader call for stronger AI oversight.