Water UK warns AI data centre expansion plans overlook critical water supply challenges
Covered by 2 sources
Water UK cautions that plans to significantly increase AI data centre capacity in England by 2030 fail to account for the substantial water demand these facilities require, particularly in regions already facing water stress. The current water management frameworks do not incorporate the expected rise in water usage for cooling and power, and developing new water infrastructure could take up to 15 years, posing risks to sustainable sector growth.