The explosion of Artificial Intelligence has recently sparked a debate onenvironmental impact of data centersAmong the most frequent criticisms is that relating to thehuge amount of water needed to cool the servers that power clouds, digital services, and AI models. But how high is this consumption really?
In fact, already today many systems are air-cooled or by immersing the machines in tanks full of water, thus with minimal waste. Even Microsoft has experimented with an underwater data centerBetween 2018 and 2020, it submerged a steel cylinder containing 864 servers, positioned approximately 36 meters deep, off the coast of the Orkney Islands, Scotland. The goal was to test whether the sea could naturally cool the servers, thereby reducing energy consumption and the use of fresh water.
Microsoft recovered the module and found a much lower failure rate than a traditional data center, attributing this to the sealed, oxygen- and humidity-free environment. However, this solution will not be widely implemented for now, but in the meantime Elon Musk had another idea of his own: placing data centers directly in orbit, at suitable temperatures and where no one will even see them. Meanwhile, in recent weeks, a debate has emerged demonstrating the tendency to demonize data centers, but in many cases it's likely that other, unsuspecting facilities, such as golf courses, are consuming more water.
Does a golf course really consume more water than a data center? The comparison isn't so simple.
Comparing a golf course and a data center can be misleading. Both have highly variable consumption, which depends on the size of the structures, climate, technologies adopted, and the availability of water resources. A small data center cooled primarily by air can use much less water than a golf course located in an arid region. Conversely, a large campus dedicated to artificial intelligence can exceed the water needs of most golf courses, especially during the summer months. For this reason, experts urge against one-on-one comparisons and instead look at the data as a whole.
How much water do golf courses consume?
In the United States, the most comprehensive monitoring is conducted by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), funded by the United States Golf Association (USGA) as part of the Golf Course Environmental Profile program. The latest survey highlights that American golf courses have reduced their water consumption by 31% compared to 2005, thanks to the introduction of more efficient irrigation systems, humidity sensors, management software and new agronomic practices.
Today the sector uses about 1,63 million acre-feet of water per year, equal to about 531 billion gallons, or 1,45 billion gallons per day (about 5,5 billion liters daily)The source of water has also changed. According to the GCSAA report, 32% of the water used comes from wells, 27% from lakes and reservoirs, and 19% from recycled or treated wastewater, thus reducing the reliance on drinking water networks.
How much water do data centers consume?
Data centers also require water, primarily used in evaporative cooling systems that keep thousands of servers running. One of the most authoritative studies is coordinated by Professor Shaolei Ren of the University of California at Riverside, conducted with researchers at Caltech. According to the analysis, if current efficiency levels were to remain unchanged, by 2030 US data centers could require an additional capacity of between 697 million and 1,451 billion gallons per day during peak usage periods. This is a volume comparable to New York City's entire daily water supply.
The study, however, highlights an often overlooked aspect: the main problem is not only the total volume of water consumed, but when and where it is requested. In fact, peaks in demand coincide with the hottest days of the year., when the water networks are already under pressure.
Who consumes the most?
If the comparison concerns the entire US sector, Today, golf courses still consume more water overall than data centers.However, the gap could narrow rapidly with the growth of artificial intelligence and the construction of new IT campuses. However, when comparing one facility to another, there is no definitive answer. Some large data centers can exceed the daily water consumption of many golf courses, while other digital facilities use significantly less water.
The real indicator is sustainability
Reducing the debate to a ranking between golf and data centers risks hiding the main problem: sustainable management of water resourcesOn the one hand, the golf industry has demonstrated, with data in hand, that it can significantly reduce consumption through innovation and water reuse. On the other, the data center industry is investing in increasingly efficient cooling systems, water recycling, and technologies that limit withdrawals during periods of greatest water stress.
Rather than asking who consumes the most water, the correct question is another: which activity manages to use this resource in the most efficient and sustainable way? It is on this ground that an important part of the debate will be played out. digital and ecological transition of the next few years.
