Tech Thirst: Data center water consumption could triple by 2030 without efficiency gains

The massive data center capacity scale-up under way has focused attention on the scale of water required for these facilities to operate. Rystad Energy estimates that without water-saving measures in place, global water consumption by data centers could rise to 644 billion liters per year by 2030. However, active mitigation could reduce demand to 388 billion liters, representing worst- and best-case scenarios as data center capacity ramps up, driven largely by the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in everyday life.

Forecasting the water impact of data centers is far from straightforward, with consumption varying significantly depending on cooling technology, climate and whether we measure water withdrawn or water actually consumed. Based on Rystad Energy estimates, data centers consumed 222 billion liters of water directly for cooling in 2025, but that figure could nearly triple to just under 644 billion liters by 2030 in our risked central case. More water-efficient pathways could bring this down to 543 billion liters in the moderate case or as low as 388 billion liters in an aggressive water-saving scenario. These figures only capture direct cooling-water consumption, while the less visible water footprint embedded in the electricity supply adds another layer of complexity,

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Technology variations
Data centers use water primarily to remove the heat generated by computing equipment, but consumption varies significantly depending on the cooling technology and location. While AI servers generate substantially more heat, the rise of AI does not necessarily mean a proportional increase in water consumption, as rack-level liquid cooling can reduce the heat burden on facility-level systems and enable greater use of dry cooling. Technologies such as those proposed for NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin platform could therefore help limit water use, although the potential savings remain highly dependent on climate, with dry cooling generally more effective in colder locations.

More than just on-site water consumption, a useful metric to consider is water-use effectiveness (WUE), the industry measure of water used per unit of IT energy, which can also account for the water consumed to generate the electricity used by a data center. Some cooling technologies can reduce on-site water use but require more electricity. For example, dry cooling can save around 2.15 liters of water for every kWh of IT load, but requires an additional 0.30–0.74 kWh of electricity. The indirect water footprint can be material relative to direct consumption, but its contribution varies significantly depending on the water intensity of the electricity supply. For instance, the indirect portion of water consumption by data center in US can be more than twice that of direct water consumption. The overall water footprint of a data center therefore depends on both its on-site cooling system and the water intensity of the electricity it consumes.

Operator dimension adds another complication

Since there is no general requirement for WUE standards in most regions, design choices vary widely among operators, even within the same climate zones. Globally, Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported an average direct site WUE of 0.12 liters per kWh in 2025, Meta reported 0.19 liters per kWh for 2024, and Microsoft reported 0.27 liters per kWh for fiscal 2025. Digital Realty reported 0.59 liters per kWh and Equinix 0.91 liters per kWh in 2025. Google's disclosed data imply a materially higher intensity, although the company does not publish an official WUE figure.

These values should not be read as a simple ranking, given differences in the treatment of leased and colocation facilities and variation in regional portfolios. There are also differences in the underlying calculation: AWS and Meta define site WUE as water withdrawal per IT capacity, as opposed to water consumption. AWS's own 2025 regional values ranged from 0.02 liters per kWh in Stockholm to 2.85 liters per kWh in Jakarta – a spread of more than 100 times within one operator's reporting framework, underscoring how strongly geography and cooling architecture influence the metric.

Major data center operators, including hyperscalers such as AWS, Google, Microsoft and Meta, have committed to using water more sustainably. All four have set targets to become “water positive” by 2030, meaning they aim to replenish more water than they consume. They are working on projects to restore freshwater supplies and improve water efficiency, including in sectors such as agriculture. However, these efforts vary by location and watershed, with greater focus often placed on areas facing high water stress. As a result, the impact on local water resources will vary.

Regulation is emerging, but reporting still leads enforcement

WUE regulation has started to emerge, but often stops at reporting requirements rather than performance mandates. The EU Commission is planning a Data Center Energy Efficiency package that would introduce a labeling system and performance standards, while Singapore's Green Data Center Roadmap aims for less than 2 cubic meters per megawatt-hour (MWh), equivalent to 2 liters per kWh. Regulations are developing in the US but vary widely by state. Texas, for example, recently has imposed a moratorium on new approvals pending audits of the tax breaks, power, water and cooling use associated with data centers.

Water stress will also be an increasingly important consideration for data center regulation, as water demand is set to grow in regions that already face significant constraints on availability. Regions with high and extremely high water stress are projected to account for 34% of the data center sector’s total global direct water consumption by 2030. Requiring the adoption of the least water-intensive cooling technologies could reduce consumption in these regions by 45%, highlighting the potential impact of technology standards in water-stressed areas. Some of the most exposed areas globally include Jamnagar and Thane in India and Reeves County in Texas, where data center water consumption is high relative to local water stress.

Contacts 
Minh Khoi Le
Global Head, Data Center & Hydrogen Research
Phone: +47 24 00 42 00
minh.khoi.le@rystadenergy.com

Kartik Selvaraju
Senior Communications Manager (APAC)
Phone: +65 8779 4619
kartik.selvaraju@rystadenergy.com 

About Rystad Energy

Rystad Energy is a leading global independent research and energy intelligence company dedicated to helping clients navigate the future of energy. By providing high-quality data and thought leadership, our international team empowers businesses, governments and organizations to make well-informed decisions.

Our extensive portfolio of products and solutions covers all aspects of global energy fundamentals, spanning every corner of the oil and gas industry, renewables, clean technologies, supply chain and power markets. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with an expansive global network, our data, analysis, advisory and education services provide clients a competitive edge in the market.

For more information, visit www.rystadenergy.com.