Texas AI centers guzzle 463 million gallons, now residents are asked to cut back on showers
Texas AI Data Centers Use Millions of Gallons of Water Amid Severe Drought
Why Data Centers Use So Much Water
Live Events
Experts Stress the Industrial Scale of Data Center Water Use
Microsoft's Sustainability Promise Faces Skepticism
FAQs
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
Amid the ongoing worsening drought condition in Texas, the State's residents face an unexpected water dilemma: while communities are urged to conserve every drop, even cutting back on simple showers, massive new AI data centers are quietly using millions of gallons daily to keep their operations running, as per a report.Microsoft's Stargate campus in Abilene is leading a surge in data center construction, promising to become one of the world's largest hubs supporting advanced artificial intelligence technology, as per a report by Techie + Gamers.But behind this high-tech promise lies a growing environmental concern: water consumption. According to a July 2025 investigation by The Austin Chronicle, data centers across Central Texas, including Microsoft and US Army Corps facilities in San Antonio, used a combined 463 million gallons of water in 2023 and 2024 alone, as reported by Techie + Gamers. That's enough water to meet the needs of tens of thousands of households, according to the report.ALSO READ: Pentagon's new missile could checkmate China — why everyone's talking about it For many Texans, this feels like a painful contradiction. While drought warnings urge residents to limit water use, especially for everyday activities like showering, giant facilities essential to the tech economy are quietly drawing vast amounts of water, mostly for cooling servers that keep the data centers running 24/7, as per the Techie + Gamers report.Robert Mace, executive director of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University highlighted that, 'People don't think of data centers as industrial water users, but they are,' adding that, 'Once that water evaporates, it's just gone,' as quoted in the report.ALSO READ: Google and Meta no longer cool? 75% of grads are walking away from Big Tech dreams for new career paths The scale of water use is massive, as the Texas Water Development Board projections estimate that data centers in the state will consume 49 billion gallons of water in 2025, soaring to nearly 400 billion gallons by 2030, as per Techie + Gamers report. That's about 7% of Texas's total projected water use, according to the report.Margaret Cook, a water policy analyst at the Houston Advanced Research Center pointed out that, 'These centers are showing up in places that are very water-stressed," adding, "There's no requirement for them to have conversations with communities about how much water they'll use,' as quoted in the report.Locals in the Hill Country region, where several new AI-focused centers are under construction, are raising alarms. Much of the water these centers use evaporates during cooling and can't be recycled, a critical issue in an area already grappling with scarce water resources, as reported by Techie + Gamers.While Microsoft said it's working toward sustainability goals, aiming to be 'water positive' by 2030, meaning it plans to replenish more water than it consumes, as per the report. The company highlights water restoration projects and the use of recycled water when possible, according to Techie + Gamers.However, critics worry these efforts often happen far from the communities facing water shortages, limiting their impact.Cook said, 'You have to question what 'water positive' means when you're building massive projects in places already dealing with water scarcity,' as quoted in the report.Transparency is another problem. Some water utilities learn about new data centers only after construction is underway, and companies sometimes operate under shell entities or code names, reducing community awareness and input, as reported by Techie + Gamers.This issue isn't just about the future, it's happening now, with drought conditions already severe across many parts of Texas, the expansion of AI infrastructure is testing how communities balance technological progress with environmental sustainability, as per Techie + Gamers.They use water mainly to cool the servers that run around the clock, which is essential to keep the data centers operating safely.Some water is recycled, but a large portion evaporates during cooling and is lost forever.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
23 minutes ago
- Time of India
Google to cut AI data centre power use during grid stress in first-ever utility deals
Google has signed agreements with two US electric utilities to reduce its AI data centre power consumption during times of surging demand on the grid, the company said on Monday, as energy-intensive AI use outpaces power supplies. Utilities in the country have been inundated with requests for electricity for Big Tech's AI data centres, with demand eclipsing total available power supplies in some areas. That power crunch has led to concerns about spiking bills for everyday homes and business and blackouts. It has also complicated the technology industry's expansion of AI, which requires massive amounts of electricity - fast. Google's agreements with Indiana Michigan Power and Tennessee Power Authority would involve scaling back power use at the technology giant's data centres when called upon by the electric utilities to free up space on the grid. They are the first formal agreements by Google in demand-response programs with utilities to temporarily curtail its machine learning workloads, a subset of artificial intelligence. "It allows large electricity loads like data centres to be interconnected more quickly, helps reduce the need to build new transmission and power plants, and helps grid operators more effectively and efficiently manage power grids," Google said in a blog post. Demand-response programs have typically been used by other energy-intensive industries like heavy manufacturing or cryptocurrency mining. In exchange, the businesses generally receive payments or reduced power bills. The programs involving AI activity in data centres is generally new, and details of the commercial arrangements between Google and the utilities were not clear. While demand-response agreements apply only to a small portion of demand on the grid, the arrangements might become more common as US electricity supply tightens.
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
Dhairya Decodes: How CIOs Can Build Influence in a Hyperconnected World
CIOs can no longer afford digital silence. In this episode of Dhairya Decodes, Founder, Podcaster & Career Coach Dhairya joins ETCIO to share smart, sustainable strategies for technology leaders to build their personal brand, attract top talent, and lead loudly in the age of AI. Advertisement
India Today
26 minutes ago
- India Today
Google DeepMind CEO says AI can replace doctors but not nurses, here is why
AI is advancing quickly across industries, and healthcare is no exception. But according to Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, there are limits to what AI can do. While the technology could one day perform many of the tasks doctors currently handle, Hassabis says it will never be able to replace nurses because their work goes beyond data and procedures, relying on human connection, empathy, and emotional recently about AI's potential in medicine, Hassabis predicted that the next five to ten years will bring some of the most dramatic changes the field has ever seen. He said that AI systems are already becoming part of medical practice and they are getting better at tasks that require processing large amounts of information. For example, machines can now read X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans with high accuracy, analyse laboratory test results, and even propose possible treatment plans for ability to process complex medical data means AI could soon become a trusted partner to doctors, handling much of the work that is time-consuming or repetitive. In some cases, Hassabis said, AI might even take over certain diagnostic responsibilities completely, freeing up doctors to focus on more specialised or difficult when asked whether the same could happen with nurses, Hassabis said no because nursing involves far more than following medical instructions or monitoring patient vitals. It is a role deeply rooted in human interaction. Nurses not only provide physical care but also offer comfort, reassurance, and emotional support, elements that are essential to recovery but cannot be replicated by even the most advanced machine. "AI can't hold someone's hand," he pointed out that a robotic nurse could, in theory, perform many physical tasks accurately, from administering medication to recording patient data. But what it would lack is warmth, compassion, and the ability to connect with people in vulnerable moments. 'A robotic nurse might be efficient, but it would lack the human warmth and compassion that define quality caregiving,' he DeepMind chief also noted that the role of a nurse is often about building trust with patients and their families, understanding subtle cues that might indicate changes in health, and being emotionally present in moments of stress or fear. These qualities, he said, are what make nursing irreplaceable, regardless of how far AI the same time, Hassabis was optimistic about the ways AI could work alongside medical professionals to improve care. By quickly analysing vast amounts of medical information — from patient histories to lab reports — AI could help identify patterns that humans might miss, leading to earlier diagnoses and more personalised treatments. This would not only improve efficiency but could also help doctors and nurses focus more time on direct patient conversation around AI in healthcare is not limited to Google DeepMind. Many experts have been debating how far the technology should be allowed to go and where human oversight is most critical. Geoffrey Hinton, one of the most prominent pioneers in AI and often referred to as the 'Godfather of AI,' recently voiced his own concerns about the future of the technology. In a podcast appearance, Hinton said he would not be surprised if AI systems developed their own internal languages to 'think' in ways that humans cannot understand, which could make it difficult to track how they arrive at certain decisions.- Ends advertisement
