England's environmental regulator, the Environment Agency (EA), is struggling to accurately predict future water shortages due to the unquantified water consumption of the booming artificial intelligence (AI) sector. Data centres, crucial for AI operations, do not report their water usage, primarily for cooling, making comprehensive forecasting challenging and potentially underestimating future deficits.
AI's Thirsty Secret: Unaccounted Water Use
The rapid expansion of AI technology is posing a significant challenge to England's water security. The Environment Agency has revealed that it cannot accurately forecast future water shortages because data centres, vital for AI, are not required to disclose their water consumption. These facilities use vast amounts of water, primarily for cooling servers to prevent overheating.
- The EA's previous projections of a 1 billion litres per day shortfall for industry by 2055 did not account for data centre usage, meaning the actual deficit could be substantially higher.
- The majority of data centres rely on the public water supply, rather than alternative sources, exacerbating concerns.
- AI data centres consume between 1.8 and 12 litres of water for each kilowatt hour of energy usage.
- One study estimates global AI water consumption could reach 6.6 billion cubic metres by 2027, nearly two-thirds of England's annual consumption.
Growing Pressure on Water Resources
England's water resources are already under immense strain, a situation exacerbated by climate change and increasing demand. Alan Lovell, EA Chair, highlighted the severe implications of this deficit, stating it threatens not only tap water supply but also economic growth and food production.
- The EA projects a potential public water supply shortfall of 5 billion litres per day by 2055 without immediate action.
- Climate breakdown is expected to further reduce water supplies, with hotter, drier summers making droughts more probable.
- Areas dependent on surface water are particularly vulnerable to drought, as groundwater recharge may become inconsistent.
Addressing the Crisis: Proposed Solutions and Controversies
To combat the looming water crisis, various strategies are being proposed and implemented, though some face significant public opposition.
- Infrastructure Development: Water companies plan to increase supply through:
- Nine desalination schemes
- Ten new reservoirs
- Seven water recycling schemes by 2050
- Demand Management: The government intends to roll out smart meters to monitor individual household water use, charging based on consumption.
- Controversial Schemes: Thames Water's proposed £300 million project to pump treated sewage into the River Thames during droughts has drawn widespread criticism due to concerns about water quality and ecological impact.
Despite these efforts, the lack of transparency regarding AI data centre water usage remains a critical blind spot, hindering effective long-term water resource planning for England.
