Shafaqna English- Ecolab’s latest Watermark Study warns that artificial intelligence data centers are driving a surge in water use worldwide—yet most consumers remain unaware of the scale of the problem, deepening mistrust in corporate water management, according to Data Centre Magazine.
As AI adoption accelerates, data centers’ heavy reliance on water-cooled systems is becoming a major sustainability challenge, Ecolab said in its third annual Watermark Study. While 55% of USA’s consumers recognize AI’s high energy use, only 41% know it also consumes large volumes of water, a gap even wider in Asia and Latin America.
Ecolab CEO Christophe Beck cautioned that “energy can be generated, but water cannot be created,” noting the world faces a 56% water deficit by 2030. Currently, just 20% of industrial wastewater is reused for cooling, leaving most data centers dependent on fresh, potable water.
Ecolab is urging operators to adopt smart water analytics, predictive maintenance, and real-time monitoring to boost recycling rates and cut freshwater demand.
The report also reveals declining public trust in corporate water practices—only 43% of USA respondents believe companies manage water responsibly. Still, two-thirds expect both businesses and governments to lead in tackling water stress, with AI itself seen as a potential tool to improve efficiency.
Source: Data Centre Magazine