Commerce Secretary Lutnick Denies Water Use by Data Centers

Lutnick’s recent assertion that data centers do not use water ignores extensive research into the industry’s environmental footprint. While he correctly noted that the cattle industry consumes significantly more water on a national scale, data from the Pacific Institute and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory paint a different picture for tech infrastructure. In 2023, US data centers consumed roughly 17 billion gallons directly, a figure that has likely doubled alongside the industry's rapid expansion. Beyond direct usage, these facilities exert massive pressure on local water tables and electricity grids, which in turn require trillions of gallons for power generation.

Local consequences have proven far more tangible than federal talking points. In Newton County, Georgia, residents reported dry taps and rising costs following the arrival of a Meta facility, while a QTS site in Fayette County was caught covertly siphoning 29 million gallons of water. Similarly, in New Carlisle, Indiana, residents near an Amazon Web Services project faced months without running water due to depleted wells. Despite the administration’s focus on its AI Action Plan, public skepticism is rising; a recent Annenberg Public Policy Center survey found that 61% of voters oppose new data center construction in their communities, a sentiment that crosses party lines.