Data Centers in Hot, Dry Climates

In hot, dry climates, the high water demand from data centers can put immense pressure on the local water supply, exacerbating the effects of drought conditions. Nonetheless, major tech companies continue to plan, build, and operate hyperscale data centers in hot, dry areas, with seemingly little regard for their impact on residents and the local environment. For example, there are several hyperscale data centers in the Phoenix metropolitan area, where water has to be supplied from over 200 miles away due to long-term drought. Despite this, Apple's data center in Mesa, Arizona uses evaporative cooling (which is associated with high water consumption) because of the high price of energy relative to water.