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... More than 60 percent of the U.S. is currently experiencing drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, while unusually warm weather and growing water demand are straining supplies nationwide. At the same time, the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure is driving a surge in new data center construction -- facilities that can consume millions of gallons of water every day.

There are now more than 5,000 data centers across the U.S., according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, with dozens more under construction as major technology companies race to expand AI capabilities. ...

Large data centers can use up to 5 million gallons of water in a single day, which is equivalent to the water use of a town populated by between 10,000 to 50,000 people, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute. ...

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have also estimated that generating a 100-word AI response can consume roughly one bottle of water through cooling and electricity use. ...