Indicating an invisible water footprint behind prompt responses generated by methods reminiscent of ChatGPT, a analysis from the College of California, Riverside, estimates {that a} typical dialog with ChatGPT, involving round 20 to 50 exchanges, can devour as a lot as half a litre of water — a hidden environmental value of rising dependence on synthetic intelligence (AI).
India is racing to turn out to be a world hub of knowledge centres, whose capability has elevated from about 375MW (mega watt) in 2020 to round 1,500MW by 2025, and projected to succeed in 13.56 GW (giga watt) by 2031-32.
In response to an UN report, the electrical energy consumption of knowledge centres had a water footprint of 4.5 trillion litres of water in 2025, sufficient to satisfy water wants of Chennai for 8.8 years (roughly). Chennai’s water necessities presently stand at 1,407 million litres of water per day. The report predicts the water footprint may attain 9.3 trillion litres of water by 2030.
Regardless of this, some States, which have already got difficulties in assembly their water wants, have introduced big knowledge centre initiatives. Google, in partnership with AdaniConneX, is developing with 1GW AI hub in Vishakapatnam and Bharti Airtel’s Nxtra, and Meta’s AI-enabled knowledge centre in partnership with Reliance Industries in Jamnagar.
Some States have introduced incentives to draw corporations to arrange their knowledge centres. Andhra Pradesh, beneath its Information Centre Coverage 4.0, affords 100% state GST (Items and Companies Tax) reimbursement on capital items, 100% stamp responsibility exemption on first sale, and deemed distribution licenses for direct vitality buy for knowledge heart initiatives with a minimal capability of 300 MW.
The UP cupboard not too long ago accredited the Information Centre Coverage, 2026, aimed toward creating over 2GW of extra capability. Gujarat’s knowledge centre coverage for 2026-29 goals to create 7.5 GW of capability and make investments ₹6 lakh crore.
Nonetheless, these initiatives have been met with resistance as a number of protests had been held in Vishakapattinam, elevating considerations on the influence on setting and the strain on sources reminiscent of electrical energy and water. Related protests had been held in Thane, Maharashtra, to oppose Amazon’s proposed hyperscale challenge.
Many knowledge centres don’t disclose the water consumption figures. Shaolei Ren, affiliate professor {of electrical} and pc engineering on the College of California, Riverside, instructed The Hindu that modifications must be made on the coverage degree to enhance transparency. “I might begin with obligatory disclosure of month-to-month and peak water use, water supply, and whether or not the positioning makes use of potable, reclaimed, or groundwater. Water-stressed areas may additionally require stricter allowing, drought restrictions, and better use of reclaimed water,” he mentioned.
“Indian knowledge centres can face increased cooling demand for a similar workload due to hotter and infrequently extra humid circumstances. However that doesn’t essentially imply increased water use, because it relies upon closely on the cooling know-how,” he added.
Environmental knowledgeable B.V. Subba Rao, who has additionally labored with the Central Floor Water Board (CGWB), mentioned: “Many of the knowledge centres, like every other industrial property, will likely be clustered in a single place and can drain out all of the water within the area. These industries additionally depend upon tanker water, and thus draw water from all sources throughout town.”
Groundwater extraction
The CGWB’s 2024 Dynamic Floor Water Assets evaluation places India’s general stage of groundwater extraction at 60.47%, with 11.1% of all evaluation items nationwide already categorised as “over-exploited.” In response to Information Centre Map, Gautam Buddha Nagar in Uttar Pradesh is now dwelling to at the very least 17 operational or upcoming knowledge centres, and has a stage of groundwater extraction of 104.79%, per the CGWB’s evaluation — that means the district attracts extra water yearly than nature replaces.
Hyderabad has been formally designated over-exploited by the CGWB. Andhra Pradesh appears to be like snug on the state degree (29.83% extraction), however Visakhapatnam — the place Google and Adani are constructing the flagship AI campus — had simply 2.12 thousand million cubic toes of groundwater in reserve as of April 2026, the bottom of any district within the State.
Gujarat sits near 54% extraction State-wide, however its coastal Saurashtra and Kutch belt, close to Jamnagar and Dholera — the place main investments have been deliberate — is grappling with seawater ingress and salinity.
Seawater cooling methods
One answer many corporations are actually is cooling knowledge centres with seawater as an alternative of freshwater. Google has used Baltic seawater to chill its knowledge centre in Finland for greater than 10 years. It’s now turning into an vital a part of India’s plan for constructing knowledge centres alongside the coast.
Nonetheless, brine discharge is a trigger for concern as it could possibly have an effect on the marine ecosystem. “How do the businesses guarantee secure disposal of the rejected water [brine]? The federal government must be clear about these initiatives. There are pointers issued by worldwide our bodies and the Union authorities, however the implementation just isn’t taking place on the State degree,” Mr. Rao added.
Revealed – August 08, 2026 10:42 pm IST
