Water shortage fears as Labour's first AI growth zone sited next to new reservoir

Source: Guardian

Labour’s first artificial intelligence growth zone will be sited next to the UK’s first new reservoir in 30 years, sparking fears that the AI push will add to the “severe pressure” on water supplies in the area.

Keir Starmer announced on Monday that he will hugely increase artificial intelligence capacity and reduce planning restrictions on companies that want to build datacentres by setting up ‘growth zones’ with fewer constraints.

The first of these will be in Culham, Oxfordshire, just seven miles from a reservoir planned by Thames Water in Abingdon, which was supposed to provide water to people in the severely water-stressed south-east. This is the area of the country most at risk of running out of water according to the Environment Agency. Oxfordshire has faced particular issues, with areas reliant on bottled water during heatwaves.

AI datacentres use a large amount of water, as their servers generate heat. To prevent computer systems overheating and shutting down, the centres use cooling towers and outside air systems, both of which need clean, fresh water. AI consumes 1.8 – 12 litres of water for each kWh of energy usage across Microsoft’s global datacentres and one study estimates that global AI could account for up to 6.6bn cubic metres of water use by 2027 – nearly two-thirds of England’s annual consumption.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/13/labour-ai-datacentre-growth-zone-water-shortages-abingdon-reservoir

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AI companies have similar plans for the US and other countries.

But don't worry, people. The AI overlords who've stolen the world's knowledge and culture and kept governments from penalizing them for the greatest theft of intellectual property ever might not also demand ALL the electricity and water.