Data centers use vast amounts of water primarily for evaporative cooling, spraying it into the air or over coils to cool hot air generated by servers in order to keep the equipment from failing. The largest data centers can consume between 1 and 5 million gallons of water daily, with consumption rising during the summer. […]
California officials announced Friday that the State Water Project will deliver more water than expected in 2026. The Department of Water Resources increased the project’s water allocation to 45% from 30% of requested supplies. The allocation tells the state’s 29 public water agencies how much water they can expect to receive. Those agencies supply water […]
Data center builders don’t tell the public how much water they use, according to a new report — and the industry is encroaching into water-stressed and vulnerable communities. The report, by the think tank Next10 and researchers at Santa Clara University, finds that planned data centers — the ganglia of artificial intelligence — are spreading […]
The US government has proposed a plan for the drought stricken Colorado River that could cut up to 40% of current supplies to Arizona, California and Nevada, as the waterway’s reservoirs continue to plunge to critically low levels. A top Arizona water official shared details of the Trump administration’s plan at a state meeting on […]
“We’re running out of water.” That blunt warning from Republican Congressman Michael Cloud, who represents Corpus Christi in the U.S. House, captures how dire the situation has become in the South Texas coastal city, where falling reservoir levels and looming mandatory cuts have brought officials closer to the prospect of severe water shortages across its primary reservoir system.
Nevada, along with its sister states of California and Arizona, has proposed taking a significant cut to its share of the Colorado River, pending approval from officials from each state. Through a news release earlier this month, the Lower Colorado River Basin states of Nevada, California and Arizona said they are willing to up their […]
California’s Thirsty Data Centers
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Sierra Stewart /Northeast Public Radio New Yorkby Randy SimonData centers use vast amounts of water primarily for evaporative cooling, spraying it into the air or over coils to cool hot air generated by servers in order to keep the equipment from failing. The largest data centers can consume between 1 and 5 million gallons of water daily, with consumption rising during the summer. […]
California Water Managers Raise 2026 Deliveries as Reservoirs Remain Near Full
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Jordan Beane /Sacramento Beeby Nicole BussCalifornia officials announced Friday that the State Water Project will deliver more water than expected in 2026. The Department of Water Resources increased the project’s water allocation to 45% from 30% of requested supplies. The allocation tells the state’s 29 public water agencies how much water they can expect to receive. Those agencies supply water […]
Data Centers Are Guzzling California’s Water. We Have No Idea How Much
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Jordan Beane /Cal Mattersby Rachel BeckerData center builders don’t tell the public how much water they use, according to a new report — and the industry is encroaching into water-stressed and vulnerable communities. The report, by the think tank Next10 and researchers at Santa Clara University, finds that planned data centers — the ganglia of artificial intelligence — are spreading […]
US Plan for Colorado River Could Cut Up to 40% Supply for Arizona, California and Nevada
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Jordan Beane /Th Guardianby Uwa Ede-OsifoThe US government has proposed a plan for the drought stricken Colorado River that could cut up to 40% of current supplies to Arizona, California and Nevada, as the waterway’s reservoirs continue to plunge to critically low levels. A top Arizona water official shared details of the Trump administration’s plan at a state meeting on […]
The US City on the Brink of Running Out of Water
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Jordan Beane /Newsweekby Joe Edwards“We’re running out of water.” That blunt warning from Republican Congressman Michael Cloud, who represents Corpus Christi in the U.S. House, captures how dire the situation has become in the South Texas coastal city, where falling reservoir levels and looming mandatory cuts have brought officials closer to the prospect of severe water shortages across its primary reservoir system.
Nevada Wants to Cut Its Own Colorado River Share for Emergency Conservation Need
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Jordan Beane /Las Vegas Review Journalby Alan Halaly and Bryan HorwathNevada, along with its sister states of California and Arizona, has proposed taking a significant cut to its share of the Colorado River, pending approval from officials from each state. Through a news release earlier this month, the Lower Colorado River Basin states of Nevada, California and Arizona said they are willing to up their […]