As concerns over the rapid growth of AI data centers continue to rise, Google says many public fears about water use are justified — but a lack of information is also fueling distrust. The company on June 3 unveiled a new set of guidelines that it hopes will become an industry standard for managing water consumption at data centers.

Environmental concerns are a big driver behind Americans’ opposition to data centers.

Google argues that better practices — and more transparency — can help ease data center fears.

Google, Microsoft, and other hyperscalers have come under scrutiny for their impact on water quality and availability.

There’s been a lot of pushback in recent months around the impact of AI data centers on local communities, with...

Most hyperscalers are secretive about their data centers’ water use, fueling local opposition

As concerns over the rapid growth of AI data centers continue to rise, Google says many public fears about water use are justified — but a lack of information is also fueling…