Greg Pierce warns that data center expansion for artificial intelligence may strain water resources in the American West.

Greg Pierce, director of the UCLA Water Resources Group, says that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence infrastructure is creating a significant challenge for water-stressed regions. As companies build more data centers to support AI development, the demand for water to cool servers is mounting in areas already facing long-term shortages. The American West is particularly affected, with iconic water bodies like the Great Salt Lake, Lake Mead, and Lake Powell experiencing significant declines. Pierce notes that while data centers are often smaller than energy utilities, they can have a substantial relative impact on local water systems. He argues that policymakers must prioritize transparency, requiring data centers to report their water and energy use to regulators. While industry leaders highlight the efficiency of newer cooling technologies, the environmental cost of AI remains a growing concern. Pierce suggests that while data centers may not be the largest water users compared to agriculture, every drop counts in regions where water is a finite resource.

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