Data Centers Near Lake Mead Compared to Lake Powell as Water Levels Plunge
Summary
Lake Mead and Lake Powell, two large U.S. reservoirs in the Colorado River system, have reached record low water levels due to long drought and overuse. Many data centers, which need a lot of water and energy, are located near Lake Mead, raising concerns about water use in this drought-affected area.Key Facts
- Lake Mead and Lake Powell supply water to over 40 million people and support farming, recreation, and hydropower.
- Both reservoirs have hit historic low water levels because of drought, low snowfall, overuse, and higher temperatures.
- More data centers are located near Lake Mead, especially around Las Vegas and Henderson, than near Lake Powell.
- Lake Powell is in a remote area with fewer data centers and less tech infrastructure.
- Data centers use water mainly for cooling their servers, with some in Southern Nevada estimated to consume over 716 million gallons in 2024.
- Some data centers use recycled water or air-cooling to reduce water use.
- Critics worry that adding water-demanding industries stresses the already low water supply in the Colorado River Basin.
- Technology companies say water use varies greatly between data centers depending on the cooling methods used.
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