Google’s growing water footprint raises sustainability concerns

As global reliance on services provided by Google intensifies, concerns are mounting over the environmental cost of running massive data centres that power search engines, cloud computing and artificial intelligence tools.

According to the company’s ‘Environment Report 2024–25’, Google’s data centres consumed around 6.1 billion gallons of water in 2023 — approximately 23 billion litres — to cool servers. By 2024, this figure had increased to 6.4 billion gallons, marking an annual rise of nearly 17 to 20 per cent.

To put the scale into perspective, the 2023 water usage alone is comparable to nearly three days of total water supply for a city like Bengaluru. The comparison has sparked debate, especially in regions already grappling with water scarcity.

Why data centres consume so much water

The surge in water consumption is closely tied to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence workloads and increased digital activity worldwide. As AI systems and cloud services grow more complex, servers generate enormous amounts of heat while processing data. Efficient cooling is essential to prevent system failure.

Most large-scale data centres use evaporative cooling technology. In this method, water absorbs heat and evaporates, thereby reducing the temperature of server environments. However, nearly 80 per cent of the water used in this process evaporates into the atmosphere, making reuse impractical.

Importantly, the water must be clean. Minerals such as calcium and magnesium, commonly found in untreated water, can accumulate and form limescale inside cooling pipes. This mineral buildup acts as an insulator, trapping heat and increasing the risk of equipment damage. As a result, data centres largely rely on fresh, treated water instead of recycled supplies.

Although recycling systems are technically feasible, they require sophisticated purification plants and separate infrastructure, significantly raising operational costs.

Sustainability goals and future plans

With water stress becoming a global issue, technology companies face growing scrutiny over their environmental impact. Google has pledged to become “Water Positive” by 2030 — aiming to replenish more water than it consumes through watershed restoration projects and improved efficiency measures.

The company has also indicated that it is exploring air-cooling systems and closed-loop technologies designed to reduce dependence on water-intensive cooling methods.

As the digital economy expands, the debate highlights a broader concern: the infrastructure powering online convenience carries tangible environmental costs. While the internet feels intangible to users, the physical systems behind it demand vast natural resources — including billions of litres of clean water each year.