Studies suggest rain may be a solution to AI’s thirst for water

The water challenge in AI and tech: As artificial intelligence and cloud computing expand rapidly, tech giants face a growing demand for water to cool their data centers, raising concerns about resource scarcity and environmental impact.

• Microsoft recently announced plans to reopen the Three Mile Island nuclear plant to power its data centers, highlighting the extraordinary measures tech companies are taking to meet energy demands.
• Industry analysts predict the number of Internet of Things devices will triple to nearly 30 billion by 2030, further increasing resource consumption.
• Water usage for AI is substantial, with researchers finding that 5-50 ChatGPT queries can consume up to 500 milliliters of water.
• Google and Microsoft reported significant increases in water usage (20% and 34% respectively) from 2021 to 2022 due to AI development.

Projected water consumption and its implications: The water demands of AI are expected to reach alarming levels, potentially matching the annual consumption of a small European nation by 2027.

• Many data centers are located in water-stressed regions, exacerbating local water scarcity issues.
• In The Dalles, Oregon, a Google-owned data center consumed one-third of the city’s water supply during drought conditions.
• While some tech companies are investing in water recycling, others are considering more ambitious solutions like transporting seawater inland or building underwater data centers.

Rainwater harvesting as a solution: A simple yet effective strategy to mitigate water risks for data centers is rainwater harvesting, a practice with ancient roots that is gaining renewed interest.

• Rainwater can be collected from rooftops and stored in tanks for use in data center cooling systems.
• Studies show that harvesting even a small portion of rainfall in an area can eliminate water shortages while recharging groundwater and reducing stormwater runoff pollution.
• Rainwater harvesting can be more cost-effective than purchasing water from municipal supplies and reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with water transportation.

Potential and challenges of rainwater harvesting: Data centers present a significant opportunity for water conservation through rainwater harvesting due to their large, flat roofs and high water demands.

• A 50,000-square-foot roof can collect about 31,000 gallons of water from just one inch of rain.
• Many data centers have roofs larger than 100,000 square feet, with some hyperscale facilities featuring roofs up to one million square feet.
• The initial cost of implementing rainwater harvesting systems (typically $2 to $5 per square foot) can be a deterrent, especially in areas with low municipal water costs.
• While rainwater harvesting may not cover all of a data center’s cooling needs, it can significantly reduce reliance on municipal water supplies.

Economic and environmental considerations: The long-term benefits of rainwater harvesting are becoming increasingly apparent as water costs and resource uncertainty rise.

• Like solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems represent a one-time investment that reduces long-term utility costs.
• In regions like the greater Dallas area, home to many data centers, rainwater harvesting could potentially cover up to a third of a facility’s cooling needs.
• Public concern about the environmental impact of AI and other technologies is growing, making water conservation an important factor for companies to consider in terms of both financial and reputational risks.

Industry adoption and policy potential: Some tech giants are beginning to recognize the potential of rainwater harvesting, while policy measures could further encourage its adoption.

• Google and Microsoft have implemented rainwater harvesting systems in some of their data centers in South Carolina and Sweden, respectively.
• Amazon Web Services has highlighted rainwater harvesting as part of its water-positive strategy.
• Green banks, supported by recent federal investments, could provide financing for rainwater projects.
• Rainwater harvesting has the potential for bipartisan support, with Democrats backing it for climate resilience and Republicans supporting it without needing to engage in climate change debates.

Looking ahead: A simple solution for a complex problem: While the tech industry explores cutting-edge solutions for energy and resource challenges, rainwater harvesting offers a time-tested, practical approach to addressing water scarcity issues.

• As water becomes an increasingly precious resource, the simplicity and effectiveness of rainwater harvesting may prove to be a crucial strategy for sustainable tech growth.
• The contrast between high-tech AI solutions and ancient water conservation methods highlights the importance of considering both innovative and traditional approaches to addressing resource challenges in the digital age.