Data Centers Are Guzzling California’s Water, but We Have No Idea How Much

A new report reveals that data centers are expanding into water-stressed California communities without disclosing their water usage, raising concerns about transparency and local impacts. - Lax disclosure rules keep the public in the dark about actual water use.

- Planned projects are spreading to regions reliant on overtapped groundwater and strained surface water. - California lawmakers are trying again with bills mandating disclosures after a veto last year.

- Debates are erupting in vulnerable communities like Kern County and the Imperial Valley. The report emphasizes that local water impacts matter most, and new legislation aims to require reporting and planning for data center water use.