Data centers are guzzling California's water. We have no idea how much (CalMatters, 5/16/26)

[highplainsdem]

CalMatters describes itself as "the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians."

https://calmatters.org/environment/water/2026/05/california-data-centers-water-transparency/

Data center builders don’t tell the public how much water they use, according to a new report — and the industry is encroaching into water-stressed and vulnerable communities.

The report, by the think tank Next10 and researchers at Santa Clara University, finds that planned data centers — the ganglia of artificial intelligence — are spreading to regions reliant on overtapped groundwater and strained surface water, with potentially major effects in the Central and Imperial Valleys.

But, reinforcing previous studies, the researchers found that a patchwork of state, federal and local policies allow data center operators to avoid publicly disclosing their actual water use.

California lawmakers tried to address this last year, but California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed the measure. Now, the Legislature is trying again, with bills mandating disclosures about water use and planning.

-snip-

Much more at that link, including why Newsom said he vetoed last year's bill, which can also be found here:

https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab93

This bill requires data centers, when applying for an initial business license, to provide to their water supplier an estimate of expected water use. It further requires data centers, when applying for a renewal of a business license, to provide their water supplier with a report on annual water use.

The widespread adoption of artificial intelligence technologies is driving an unprecedented demand for data center capacity throughout the nation. As the global epicenter of the technology sector, California is well positioned to support the development of this critically important digital infrastructure in the state.

While I appreciate the author's intent, I am reluctant to impose rigid reporting requirements about operational details on this sector without understanding the full impact on businesses and the consumers of their technology.

[ret5hd]

1. well heck ...who hasn't drank and/or bathed...

with data when the need arose.

[PufPuf23]

2. One would think that sources and uses of water would be addressed for CEQA permitting.

I had extensive experience in the development of alternative energy projects (waste biomass energy) that draw significant amounts of water for the boilers. However, this was long ago, between 1986 and 1996. Much of the specifics could have changed and I profess no current expertise. I worked on project construction finance for 14 powerplants and "touched" as a consultant over 20 other similar powerplants during development and startup. Water was always an issue, the degree of analysis varied greatly by state and also sometimes included an EIS or other federal NEPA work. The locations were CA, MI, 7 states in New England, Ontario and Quebec.

One California project was in a small town that drew from ground water. An EIR under CEQA was prepared. There were mitigations identified that were incorporated into the project that were indirect to the project: (1) The community water system, that also drew ground water was rebuilt and upgraded, (2) Specific on and off site water drainage were required to be built and (3) The project design included filtering and re-uses of water used in the boiler and for other onsite industrial uses of water (the project was a greenfield sawmill integrated with the powerplant. Startup for the specific project was 1990).

From page 24 from REGULATING DATA CENTER WATER USE in California. This is a link from the CalMatters article in OP.

https://www.law.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/archive/2026/02/Regulating-Data-Center-Water-Use-in-CA_Report_CLEE-2026.pdf .

>>California has its own environmental review requirements. Developing a data center
generally necessitates environmental review under the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA). CEQA requires local and state agencies to evaluate the environmental
impacts of any project that requires their approval and to avoid or mitigate significant
impacts whenever feasible.117 The lead agency must prepare an environmental impact
report (EIR) if the project would have significant negative effects on the environment.118
This report includes an evaluation of “[d]irect and indirect significant effects of the
project on the environment,” both in the short-term and the long-term, including
changes to “aspects of the resource base such as water.”119 Depending on a data
center’s specifications, CEQA review may need to include a water supply assessment
by potential water suppliers.120 For example, a water supply assessment is required for
a proposed industrial development (including a data center project) with “more than
650,000 square feet of floor area” or that would use an amount of water equivalent
to either a 500-unit residential development or a 10% increase in the connections
of a small public water system with 5,000 or fewer connections.121 While some data
centers likely meet these thresholds, others fall below them—contributing to the
current lack of data regarding the industry’s water use in California. CEQA offers
communities an opportunity to voice concerns during a formal public review period
that requires written agency responses.