California Today

Data Centers Drain California's Water, Transparency Lacking

18 May 2026 09:20

Data centers in California are using large amounts of water, but state monitoring is insufficient. - In Kings County, near Lemoore, data center water demand is rising rapidly.

- Lack of mandatory reporting leaves water usage largely unmonitored. - This poses risks to local agriculture and communities during drought.

- Transparency and sustainability concerns are growing as consumption increases. The unchecked water use by data centers could worsen shortages for farming and residents in the region.

Tags

LemooretechnologywaterdroughtenvironmentKings CountyWarning