Data centers and artificial intelligence: up to 750,000 liters of water per day per megawatt

Published 2026-10-31

Data centers that power artificial intelligence (AI) could consume large amounts of water. According to an article published by tech-insider.org, some facilities could use as much as 750,000 liters of water per day for every megawatt of power. The issue is increasingly relevant for Italy too, where demand for digital services and IT infrastructure is constantly growing.

Data centers are large buildings filled with servers, that is, computers that process and store data. To prevent these machines from overheating, the facilities use cooling systems, often based on water. As artificial intelligence models develop, requiring much more computing power than traditional services, the water consumption of these facilities also tends to rise.

The news concerns an announcement involving the companies Endeavor and Trevi, which presented figures on the water needs of these infrastructures. However, the article also highlights the limits of these estimates, because actual consumption depends on several factors, such as the type of cooling technology, the climate of the area, and the amount of energy used. For this reason, the data must be read with care.

In conclusion, the relationship between artificial intelligence and water resources is a topic of growing attention. Experts urge a careful assessment of the environmental impact of data centers, especially in regions where water is already a scarce and sensitive resource. Future technological and regulatory choices could influence how these facilities are built and managed.

Sources: tech-insider.org

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