Ai Firms Risk 1 3 Bn Peoples Water Needs By 2030 Bombshell Un Report Says Urgent Action Needed

that the amount could match the basic yearly water needs of 1.3 billion people, as per a new report by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH). The report says people often focus only on AI's carbon emissions, but AI also has a huge impact on water resources.

Data centers that power AI require huge amounts of water to cool servers and support their operations. Lead author Miriam Aczel said in an UNU-INWEH press release cited by TIME report, researchers were surprised that some energy options that look environmentally friendly from a carbon perspective can actually be worse for water resources. Aczel warned that focusing only on carbon emissions could create the false impression that renewable energy makes AI infrastructure completely sustainable.

AI uses a large amount of water mainly to keep systems cool. Powerful servers run AI models and these servers produce a lot of heat. If the machines overheat, they can slow down, get damaged, or stop working. To prevent this, data centers use water-based cooling systems like evaporative cooling towers.

These systems use water to absorb heat and keep the equipment at safe temperatures. Data centers also need water indirectly, because water is used in making electricity and building materials. Inside data centers, servers use electricity to do calculations and store data. Some of this electricity turns into heat, which must be removed to avoid overheating and system failure, as explained by the Environmental Law Institute.

The report says AI's environmental impact is already being felt around the world, not just in future projections. Researchers warn that this level of water consumption can be dangerous for regions already struggling with drought and water shortages.

Another report by the EESI Environmental and energy study institute says the impact of data centers on water supplies is already being felt in some communities. In Northern Virginia, often called the world's data center capital, more than 300 data centers consumed nearly 2 billion gallons of water in 2023, a 63% increase from 2019. Loudoun County alone used about 900 million gallons of water that year, leading local water authorities to rely heavily on drinking-quality water supplies to meet demand.

In Querétaro, proposed fast-tracked data center projects have raised concerns about local water supplies during ongoing drought conditions. In Uruguay, plans for a water-intensive data center sparked controversy during a severe drought in 2023. The drought reduced freshwater reserves in Uruguay's largest city and made tap water unsafe to drink.

Residents protested because they felt that industrial projects were being given more importance than people’s access to drinking water. To stop communities from suffering because of AI growth, the report says we need a more responsible AI system. It asks governments, investors, and financial institutions to create stronger rules to reduce environmental damage caused by AI.

Researchers also say that permission for new data centers should include checks on water use and local community concerns. The report clearly warns that AI’s rising water demand could put more pressure on people and natural resources if governments do not take action soon.

Durva More is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, where she covers finance, and global news. She brings experience across digital and television journalism, with a strong focus on breaking news, business reporting, and international affairs. Before joining Hindustan Times, Durva worked as an International News Writer at The Economic Times, covering a diverse range of subjects including global politics, business, sports, entertainment, and major world events. She also worked as a Business Reporter with NDTV Profit. A postgraduate diploma holder in Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, Durva is passionate about field reporting and storytelling. She thrives on the adrenaline of chasing stories, speaking with people from different walks of life, and amplifying voices that deserve to be heard. Her reporting is driven by curiosity, accuracy, and a commitment to making complex subjects accessible to readers. When she is not chasing stories or covering breaking news, Durva enjoys reading books and painting. She loves exploring new ideas, meeting people, and learning about different perspectives. For her, both journalism and art are ways to understand the world and tell stories that matter.Read More