Meta announces huge new data centers, but they could gobble up millions of gallons of water per day

image via Engadget

July 14, 2025, 5:40 PM

• •Meta is constructing several gigawatt-sized data centers to power AI, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg planning to spend "hundreds of billions of dollars."
• •The first data center, Prometheus, will come online next year in Ohio, and Hyperion, nearly the size of Manhattan, aims to scale up to 5GW.
• •These data centers, however, raise concerns about their impact on local communities, particularly regarding water consumption.
• •Data centers in various states are straining local water reserves, leading to potential shortages, increased water prices, and construction pauses.

Meta is heavily investing in gigawatt-sized data centers, including Prometheus and Hyperion, to power its AI ambitions, aiming for "superintelligence" with investments in the hundreds of billions of dollars. However, these massive data centers are facing scrutiny due to their significant consumption of resources, particularly water, creating potential shortages in local communities. The New York Times reports that some areas are experiencing damaged wells, soaring water prices, and potential rationing by 2030 due to data center demands. This issue extends beyond Meta, as other data centers in states like Texas, Arizona, and Colorado are also straining local water reserves and impacting communities.

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