Saving water during a drought in the UK is recommended by the government, with the suggestion to lessen your email usage, specifically by deleting old emails.
In the digital age, it's easy to forget that our online activities have real-world implications. A growing concern is the water consumption associated with AI-generated responses, particularly in data centers that run AI servers 24/7.
Two of the most popular AI platforms, Google's Workspace and Microsoft Office 365, boast numerous AI features. These features, however, come at a cost. For instance, a single response from the Mistral Large 2 model by French model builder Mistral AI consumes approximately 45 milliliters of water and generates about 1.14 grams of CO2e. Generating between 10-50 medium-sized responses using a model in the 175 billion parameter range is estimated to consume about half a liter of water[1].
The water consumption for these activities mostly comes from the cooling systems of data centers. These systems use water-intensive evaporative cooling to prevent overheating, consuming water volumes comparable to small cities. On average, a single AI text prompt may indirectly consume around 0.26 milliliters of water when considering all aspects of data center operations and cooling[2].
Large-scale data centers withdraw billions of gallons of water annually. For example, Google's data centers withdrew about 8.65 billion gallons globally in 2023, and a single Microsoft AI data center in Arizona used about 56 million gallons a year, roughly equal to the water consumption of 670 homes[3][4]. This water usage is significant, especially in regions prone to drought, such as Texas, where AI data centers consume hundreds of millions of gallons of water amid severe water scarcity[5].
The impact on water conservation efforts is substantial. In England, five areas are now officially in drought, and six more are experiencing prolonged dry weather following what is now the driest six months since 1976. The UK's National Drought Group (NDG) has defined the current situation in England as a "nationally significant incident." In an attempt to reduce water demand, the NDG is suggesting citizens help by clearing out their email inboxes[6].
However, it's not immediately clear how much impact clearing out your spam folder will have on water conservation. Meanwhile, a possible way for UK netizens to curb their water use digitally is to avoid using generative AI apps and services.
As we continue to embrace AI technology, it's crucial to consider its environmental impact. Efforts to improve efficiency and recycle water exist but are not yet sufficient to fully offset this impact. It's a reminder that our everyday choices, including turning off a tap and deleting old emails, can help preserve the health of rivers and wildlife[7].
[1] Source for water consumption of AI responses [2] Source for average water consumption of a single AI text prompt [3] Source for Google's data center water usage [4] Source for Microsoft's data center water usage [5] Source for AI data center water usage in Texas [6] Source for NDG suggesting clearing email inboxes [7] Source for Helen Wakeham's statement on simple everyday choices for water conservation
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