A Guardian analysis reveals most new US AI datacenters are planned for drought-hit areas, sparking concerns over the significant water demands required to sustain their operations.
Existing data centers also show a similar trend
Jun 09, 2026
01:19 pm
What's the storyA recent analysis by The Guardian has revealed that most of the new artificial intelligence (AI) data centers in the United States will be constructed on drought-stricken land.
The facilities, which require a significant amount of water for their operations, are mostly planned for regions that have been among the driest in the country over the past year.
Most new U.S. AI data centers are being built in drought zones — two-thirds of 809 planned projects set for areas with water shortages
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