A recent study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology analyzed 9,347 operational data centers worldwide. Researchers found that approximately 25% of these facilities are located in regions where water demand exceeds available supply for at least one month per year.
The data shows that 6% of data centers operate in areas facing water stress for most of the year. In the United States, which hosts 39% of the global total, 21% of facilities are situated in water-stressed regions. Meanwhile, 35% of Canadian data centers face at least one month of water shortages annually.
The study highlights that data centers compete for water with local residents, agriculture, and manufacturing. Globally, 41% of these facilities are located in areas where municipal water use dominates, while 28% are in regions primarily dependent on agricultural irrigation.
Climate models suggest that if global temperatures rise by 3 degrees Celsius, the proportion of data centers in water-stressed regions could increase to 33%. Researchers emphasize that future infrastructure planning must prioritize local water sustainability alongside traditional factors like power and land costs.
