AI Water Footprint Could Rival Needs of 1.3 Billion People by 2030, UN Warns

AI water footprint reaches 1.3 billion‑person scale by 2030

The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health warns that the AI water footprint may soon equal the domestic water demand of 1.3 billion people, a figure comparable to the entire Sub‑Saharan region. By 2030 global AI‑driven data centres are projected to draw ↑ 945 TWh of electricity annually – nearly three times the combined consumption of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria. The cooling systems alone could require up to 5 million gallons per day, stressing water‑scarce locales.

Beyond carbon: hidden land and water costs

Most assessments focus on carbon emissions, yet the water footprint and land footprint are equally decisive. Shifting from coal to bioenergy slashes carbon output by 70 % but inflates water use by ↓ 30‑fold and land demand a hundred‑fold, researchers note.

“What surprised us most is how often the choices that look greenest from a carbon perspective end up worse for water or land,” said Miriam Aczel, lead author of the study.

In 2025 data centres already consumed 448 TWh – more than Saudi Arabia’s total electricity use, according to Reuters. Ireland’s grid reported that data centres accounted for 21 % of metered electricity in 2023, prompting a halt on new approvals in Dublin until 2028.

Communities in Mexico’s Querétaro and drought‑hit Uruguay have protested plans for water‑intensive facilities, fearing that essential supplies will be diverted from residents. The report also flags a widening digital divide: 90 % of AI‑specialised capacity sits in the United States and China, while only 16 % of nations host such sites.

Electronic waste could climb to 2.5 million metric tons annually by 2030, threatening low‑income regions that often receive discarded hardware. As Bloomberg highlights, governance, not technology, will decide whether AI’s benefits are shared equitably.

Policymakers, investors and lenders are urged to embed water and land impact assessments into permitting processes, ensuring that communities supplying critical minerals and hosting infrastructure also reap rewards. The lingering memory of the pandemic underscores the need for resilient, inclusive planning.

Correction: An earlier dispatch misstated the 2025 electricity figure.

Analysis by: Elena Rostova

Socio-Economic Trends Analyst