Analysis Shows Most US Data Centers to Be Located in Dry Areas
As drought conditions spread across large parts of the U.S., the rapid expansion of the AI sector is increasingly colliding with concerns about water availability. A recent analysis found that most planned data center developments are slated for regions that have experienced persistent dryness during the past year, raising questions about long-term resource management. Data centers form the backbone of modern AI systems but require substantial quantities of water to keep servers cool. According to the analysis, roughly two-thirds of the 809 facilities currently planned across the country are located in areas that have faced drought conditions over the last 12 months. Existing centers show a similar…