Texas data centers guzzle billions of gallons while residents face drought restrictions

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Microsoft and the Army Corps pulled 463 million gallons out of San Antonio between 2023 and 2024.
https://www.sacurrent.com/news/san-antonio-data-centers-guzzled-463-million-gallons-of-water-as-area-faced-drought-38116670

The city was under Stage 3 drought rules.
Residents could water lawns once a week.
https://www.newsweek.com/texas-data-center-water-artificial-intelligence-2107500

In 2025, Texas data centers are projected to use 49 billion gallons.
By 2030, the number jumps to 399 billion gallons — 6.6% of all water used in the state.
https://texasscorecard.com/state/texas-data-centers-thirst-for-water-challenging-state-infrastructure/

Most use evaporative cooling.
Eighty percent of what’s drawn is gone to the air.
No state law limits their draw.
https://dallasexpress.com/national/data-centers-growing-water-use-strains-communities-amid-rising-ai-demand/

“People don’t think of data centers as industrial water users, but they are.”
“These centers are showing up in places that are very water-stressed. There’s no requirement for them to have conversations with communities about how much water they’ll use.”
https://dallasexpress.com/national/data-centers-growing-water-use-strains-communities-amid-rising-ai-demand/

Nobody’s naming the companies that skipped water audits.
Nobody’s explaining why server farms get unlimited draw while homes get fines.
Nobody’s modeling what happens when aquifers fall below recharge levels.

The loop is simple. AI needs cooling. Texas gives it water. Residents get restrictions.

The state passed Senate Bill 6 to cut power during grid stress.
No bill exists to cut water.
https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2025-07-25/texas-is-still-in-drought-and-ai-data-centers-are-quietly-guzzling-up-water/