Google, Microsoft Race to Address Data Center Water Consumption Concerns

Executive Briefing

• Reveals 70% of Americans oppose data center development, citing water scarcity as top concern
• Projects hyperscale data centers could consume up to 33 billion gallons of water annually by 2030
• Google pledges freshwater replenishment and annual water-use disclosures; Microsoft moves away from evaporative cooling entirely
• Highlights trade-off: evaporative cooling saves energy but strains local water supplies in drought-prone regions
• Warns Microsoft's internal records show water use set to skyrocket despite public conservation commitments