Data centers could use as much water as NYC by 2030

Technology Mar 07, 2026

A new study says that by 2030, US data centers could be using as much water every day as New York City does.
With all the servers needing to stay cool, these facilities are running into serious water limits.
Tech companies are now pouring money into better water infrastructure to help out local communities and keep things running smoothly.

Upgrading systems to handle costs could be a challenge

To keep up with rising demand, data centers could need up to 1.45 billion extra gallons of water daily, about what New York City uses.
Upgrading the systems to handle this could cost anywhere from $10 billion to $58 billion.
The study suggests making peak water usage reporting mandatory and teaming up with local communities to share costs and solutions.