Can Water Companies Handle AI Heating Up?

Modern data centres, which are pivotal in powering artificial intelligence (AI), demand significant amounts of water to maintain optimal operation of critical systems.

These facilities utilise water predominantly to cool their vast arrays of equipment—a necessary step to ensure technology runs efficiently and safely.

The rise of AI technology is pushing the boundaries of invention, particularly within the cooling sectors to support the burgeoning needs of these technologies.

However, this surge in innovation is introducing new sustainability challenges, with the potential overuse of water resources becoming a notable concern.

The UK is on a fast track to bolster its tech infrastructure, as the government vies to boost economic growth through the strategic addition of multiple data centres across the nation.

These developments, whilst beneficial economically, may strain already limited water supplies.

According to the BBC, UK water industry company Thames Water is already speaking with the government about plans to confront possible water shortages. 

The thirst of AI technologies

As the reliance on AI intensifies within the tech industry, so too does the water consumption of data centres.

Operators are now exploring innovative cooling tactics such as liquid and immersion cooling solutions.

These methods not only help reduce the thermal load but also lessen the energy consumption and environmental impact of these facilities.

The demand for such vast amounts of water is not unfounded.

A standard data centre could utilise millions of gallons annually merely to prevent critical systems from overheating - a necessity to safeguard data integrity and hardware functionality.

Cooling tech innovations are rapidly evolving, aiming to curtail the environmental footprint of these essential infrastructures without compromising their operational efficacy.

Insights from experts

There is an emerging consensus among UK experts regarding the insufficiency of current water supplies to meet future demands.

With this in mind, alternative solutions and collaborative efforts between water companies and governmental bodies are crucial.

In 2024, the Environment Agency wrote via a blog post Meeting our Water Needs for the Next 25 Years that by 2050, England alone would need an extra five billion litres of water every day - the equivalent of two million wheelie bins (trash cans) just to serve the population.

Likewise, the National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC) has also called for the UK government to make tech companies submit mandatory reports on their energy and water consumption and carbon emissions. This is so that data centres are designed to use fewer vital resources from the beginning.

“Surging power consumption from data centres driven by AI workloads could see total US energy demand outstrip generation capacity by 2028,” the NEPC explained in its report. 

“Even looking towards less dramatic projections – the consumption of energy and withdrawal of water from local networks poses a significant potential challenge, especially as data centres tend to be concentrated in certain localities.”

CEO of Foxglove Martha Dark explains to the BBC: “The government must urgently explain how its plans for new data centres will not threaten our long-term supplies of drinking water.”

Proactive measures in data centre management

As environmental concerns mount, giant companies like Google and Microsoft are openly addressing their increasing water use, underscoring a trend that could raise sustainability red flags if left unchecked.

Microsoft, specifically, is pioneering the implementation of water-free cooling systems to cater to its AI-driven workload demands, a move signalling a significant shift in how data centres might operate in the near future.

Government responses have also been tailored to these challenges.

With the launch of AI Growth Zones, the UK is setting the stage to attract investment into regions with pre-existing energy and water infrastructures, thereby aligning expansion with sustainability.

Indeed, the narrative around data centres and environmental sustainability is rapidly evolving, underscoring the need for integrated solutions that address the twin challenges of technological advancement and resource conservation.

Explore the latest edition of Sustainability Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Sustainability LIVE. 

Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.

Sustainability Magazine is a BizClik brand