Sir Keir Starmer’s vision of making the UK a global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) may unintentionally strain the country’s already limited fresh water supplies, according to industry experts. The large data centres required to support AI demand substantial water for cooling systems to prevent overheating. While the tech industry is working to develop more water-efficient cooling solutions, the UK government recognizes that data centres face sustainability challenges.
As part of the plan to boost economic growth, the UK government has committed to building multiple data centres across the country. However, these centres could put additional pressure on already stretched water supplies, particularly in southern regions where climate change and population growth are exacerbating water scarcity.
The government’s first AI growth zone is planned for Culham, Oxfordshire, near a proposed new reservoir at Abingdon. This new reservoir is designed to supply the Thames Valley, London, and Hampshire with water. It is unclear how much water the nearby data centres will consume, but Thames Water has been in talks with the government about this issue.
The Royal Academy of Engineering has warned the government to ensure that tech companies disclose the amount of water and energy their data centres consume. The academy advocates for sustainability requirements, including reducing fresh water usage and moving towards zero-water cooling methods. Failure to address these concerns could cause long-term environmental damage, according to Professor Tom Rodden, one of the report’s authors.
Data centres typically use fresh mains water for cooling, which is more expensive than surface water. According to Dr. Venkatesh Uddameri, a water management expert, a typical data centre can consume between 11 to 19 million litres of water daily, which is equivalent to the water use of a town of 30,000 to 50,000 people. This water usage can increase, especially during periods when AI systems are being developed, as seen with Microsoft’s 34% increase in water usage while developing AI tools.
Despite the concerns, data centres worldwide, including in the UK, have faced growing resistance due to their significant water consumption. In Chile, Google halted construction of a data centre due to water concerns, and in Uruguay, it redesigned a cooling system in response to local protests.
Thames Water has warned that data centres could face water restrictions, especially during heatwaves. The company has acknowledged the need for a review of data centres’ water usage, but it remains unclear how much water is being used by the centres already in operation. Thames Water has not commented further but has emphasized that it has no legal obligation to provide water to businesses, including data centres, and could restrict supply if necessary.
Environmental group Foxglove has called for urgent clarification from the government on how its plans for new data centres will not jeopardize the UK’s water supply in the long term. Meanwhile, the government has acknowledged the challenge posed by water and energy consumption, stating that AI growth zones are being set up in areas with existing infrastructure.
The data centre industry contends that modern cooling systems are becoming more efficient. For example, some centres are using free air cooling and closed-loop systems that reuse water. Aaron Binckley, Vice President of Sustainability at Digital Realty, which operates 300 data centres worldwide, claims that AI tools are being developed to reduce water consumption, with some centres expected to save millions of litres annually.
However, the Environment Agency has warned that by 2050, England will need an additional five billion litres of water per day to meet population demands. The regulator is urging data centres to plan for future water consumption and explore alternative sources, such as water reuse, to ensure that the increased demand does not put further strain on the UK’s water resources.
