Illustration created by Chat GPT from a prompt by Bjorn Ulfsson, CTIF.

16 Jun 2026

AI data centers face growing backlash from firefighters and the public over heavy water use

AI centres are forecasted to need massive amounts of water for cooling. In several regions, fire‑service leaders have publicly warned that water‑use restrictions tied to AI data‑center growth could compromise firefighting operations.

Public opposition to AI data centres is mounting across North America, Australia and Europe as new research and community protests highlight the enormous volumes of water required to cool the facilities powering artificial‑intelligence systems.

Information is also circulating on the internet about firefighters raising concerns about water use in AI centres, however these statements are AI generated and currently not verified by CTIF.

Analysts say the surge in AI model training and deployment has driven a parallel boom in hyperscale data‑center construction, many of which rely on evaporative cooling systems that consume large amounts of freshwater. The United Nations University warns that AI’s environmental footprint extends far beyond electricity, with significant water and land impacts tied to the energy used to run and cool data‑center infrastructure.

In the Australia, Europe, United States and Canada, residents have staged protests against proposed AI data‑center projects, citing concerns about water withdrawals during periods of drought and municipal restrictions.

A recent analysis by Chatham House reports that AI‑driven data‑center growth is becoming a fast‑rising driver of water demand, especially in regions already facing climate‑related water stress. The think tank notes that some communities now say they would prefer a nuclear power plant over a data center, reflecting the scale of public concern.

Governments are beginning to respond. The UK, which has announced plans for roughly 100 new data centers by the early 2030s, is being urged to adopt stricter transparency and sustainability requirements to prevent water‑use conflicts. Researchers warn that without clear governance, the environmental burdens of AI infrastructure — including water withdrawals, land use, and energy demand — will fall disproportionately on vulnerable communities.

As AI adoption accelerates, policymakers and industry leaders face growing pressure to develop water‑efficient cooling technologies, disclose water‑use data, and ensure that the benefits of AI do not come at the expense of local water security.

Why AI data centres use so much water

AI data centres consume water primarily for cooling. Some of that water can be recycled, but not nearly as much as people assume. The hotter the chips, the more cooling they need — and AI chips (GPUs/TPUs) run far hotter than traditional cloud servers.

The main reasons:

• AI workloads generate extreme heat

Training and running large AI models uses: