Global data centers face water shortages

One quarter of global data centers operate in regions where water demand exceeds supply, according to a study by Stanford University. The research, published in October 2026, mapped 9,347 data centers and cross-referenced their locations with available water resources worldwide.

Cooling needs strain local water sources

The study found that cooling these facilities draws from the same watersheds as cities and agricultural operations. The United States, which hosts 39% of the global data center infrastructure, concentrates the majority of sites exposed to water stress.

Water stress affects a significant portion

The study by Lorenzo Rosa and colleagues overlaid the location of each site with regional data on water availability and consumption. Their model included municipal, agricultural, industrial, and energy production withdrawals. Overall, 25% of data centers function in areas where demand exceeds supply for at least one month per year, with approximately 6% experiencing near-permanent water stress.

Water use data is incomplete

Water consumption data for these facilities has been unevenly measured and often incomplete, unlike energy consumption, which has been documented for years through electrical readings. According to Environmental Science & Technology, no such mapping existed prior to this research, making it the first global atlas at the level of each individual installation.

Water must be locally sourced

Unlike electricity, which can be transported over long distances, water must always come from local sources. This makes water management a critical challenge for data centers in regions facing supply shortages.