The surging demand for data is guzzling Virginia’s water

Every email you send, every uploaded file, every web search, and every social media post has a home in towering data centers that process and store the massive amounts of information we rely on daily. These data centers, particularly concentrated in northern Virginia, are expanding rapidly, consuming staggering amounts of water to cool their servers. As artificial intelligence applications become more widespread, these facilities are thirstier than ever. With major companies like Google and Amazon investing billions in data center expansions, concerns about water scarcity and environmental impact are growing. The Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition is calling for transparency and accountability from these secretive industry giants. Despite some efforts by lawmakers to regulate water use, the industry remains resistant to oversight. As the demand for data grows, so does the strain on Virginia’s water resources.