America’s digital infrastructure is quietly fueling a water crisis.

Across the U.S., over 2,600 data centers — including those run by Meta, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft — are using hundreds of thousands to millions of gallons of water each day to cool their servers. A mid-sized facility consumes about 300,000 gallons daily, equivalent to the water use of 1,000 households. Larger AI-driven centers can use millions of gallons per day.

These numbers aren’t disclosed to the public. And there are no federal rules limiting how much water these facilities can withdraw, even in regions facing severe drought.

Right now, about 20% of data centers operate in already water-stressed areas. The water they consume is often evaporated and released as salty wastewater that burdens local utilities. And yet, only 16% of major data center operators have made their water plans public.

The result? Communities like Newton County, Georgia, are suffering. Families there have lost access to well water after a Meta data center moved in nearby. The local water utility is on track to hit a water deficit by 2030. And across the country, aquifers are being depleted with little oversight.

We call on the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and Congress to:

• Establish national water use guidelines for all data centers
• Require transparent water use reporting by all operators
• Mandate environmental and community impact studies before approval of new facilities
• Prioritize water-stable regions for future development

Some tech companies have pledged to become water-positive by 2030 — but without enforceable standards, those promises mean little to the communities already being left behind.

Water is not a trade-off for AI chatbots and faster internet. It’s a basic human right. It’s time for smart, fair rules that put public needs ahead of unchecked corporate growth.

Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via NPR