Data centers, which support the operations of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital services, require large amounts of water, mainly for cooling. As of the end of 2024, there were 1,136 data centers worldwide, according to the Synergy Research Group. Cooling systems vary, with some using air or evaporative cooling, which requires significant water. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that in 2023, global data centers consumed 560 billion liters of water for cooling—enough to supply 10 million French people annually or fill more than 220,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. This usage is expected to double by 2030, reaching 1.2 trillion liters per year. Some of the largest technology companies have reported sourcing water from regions facing water stress. Microsoft reported that 42% of its water withdrawals in 2023 came from areas experiencing water scarcity, while Google indicated that 15% of its withdrawals were from areas in "severe water scarcity." Many data centers are located in arid regions because of the cooler climate, which helps reduce energy costs for cooling. However, with 36% of river basins showing flows below historical levels and 65% of groundwater monitoring stations showing declining water levels, the increased demand for water by data centers has raised environmental concerns. Critics argue that the water consumption figures reported by tech companies may not fully reflect the environmental impact. For instance, Sébastien Gavois of Next pointed out that companies may use up to ten times more water than they report, with only the water not returned to the river basin counted as "consumed." This can lead to temporary local water shortages and environmental damage, as the discharged water is often warmer and polluted. Cases have been reported around the world, including the discovery of a rare bacterium in water discharged from a Meta data center in Wyoming, and allegations that a data center in Georgia discharged metals into a river. In India, residents accused Microsoft of illegally discharging industrial waste near their farms, while in Marseille, data centers using river water for cooling were found to be releasing water at higher temperatures, affecting the local ecosystem. Efforts to reduce water use include commitments to become "water positive" by 2030, similar to carbon offsetting programs. However, environmental experts argue that compensating for water use does not eliminate the harm to local communities and ecosystems. Benoît Petit of Hubblo and DC Watch called this approach "further greenwashing" of the industry. Beyond direct water use for cooling, indirect water consumption is also significant. An investigation by the French Electronic Communications Regulation Authority (Arcep) found that indirect water use by data centers in France is thirteen times higher than direct consumption. This includes water used in extracting metals like copper and in electricity production, with total water use estimated at nearly 6.5 million cubic meters for 2024—enough to supply over 100,000 people annually. Despite growing concerns, transparency remains an issue. Some companies, like Amazon, do not publish detailed data on water and electricity use. The European Commission has introduced a mandatory rating system for data center energy and water efficiency, but the process has been influenced by lobbying from major tech companies, resulting in the confidentiality of individual data center information. As a result, the environmental impact of data centers continues to be a subject of debate and scrutiny.