As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to gain traction globally, its increasing demand is having significant implications for water resources in places like Querétaro, Mexico. This historic city, known for its colonial architecture and iconic aqueduct, is becoming a primary hub for data centers that support the growing tech industry. These facilities, operated by major companies like Microsoft and Amazon Web Services, are essential for processing vast amounts of data for AI applications. However, the rapid establishment of these data centers raises urgent questions about sustainability, particularly regarding water consumption in a region already facing severe drought.

At its core, a data center is a facility that houses thousands of servers—powerful computers designed to process, store, and circulate data efficiently. Given the intense processing demands of AI, these centers require extensive energy and cooling solutions. Cooling systems are necessary to prevent overheating, and while some techniques, like water evaporation, are effective, they considerably increase water usage. For instance, smaller data centers utilizing water-based cooling can consume around 25.5 million liters of water annually. In contrast, other centers, like those operated by Microsoft in Querétaro, have adopted more efficient cooling methods that rely predominantly on outside air. However, even these advanced systems accumulate significant water usage; estimates for Microsoft’s facilities indicate they will have consumed around 40 million liters by 2025. As the number of data centers grows, so does their overall water footprint, compounding the challenges faced by communities dealing with water scarcity.

The situation exemplifies the need for balanced resource management, especially in regions such as Querétaro, which recently faced its worst drought in a century. Local activists express growing concerns about prioritizing water distribution for data centers over essential community needs. Many residents highlight a conflict of interest in state water policies, advocating for a focus on securing water availability for human consumption before accommodating industrial demands. It raises an important question: how can we ensure sustainable development while meeting the rising technological demands of the 21st century? As new data centers continue popping up to satisfy AI needs, it’s crucial to engage local communities in discussions about equitable resource allocation. For those who want to explore this topic further, resources like the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals provide frameworks for understanding the intricate relationship between technology, resource use, and community welfare.