AI demand means data centres are worsening drought in Mexico

Positioned in the course of Mexico, Querétaro is an enthralling and vibrant colonial-style metropolis identified for its dazzling stone aqueduct.

However the metropolis, and state of the identical identify, can also be recognised for a really totally different purpose – as Mexico’s knowledge centre capital.

Throughout the state firms together with Microsoft, Amazon Net Companies and ODATA personal these warehouse-like buildings, stuffed with laptop servers.

Nobody may provide a precise quantity, however there are scores of them, with extra being constructed.

Ascenty, which claims to be the most important knowledge centre firm in Latin America, has two in Querétaro, each round 20,000 sq ft in dimension, with a 3rd underneath building.

It’s forecast that greater than $10bn (£7.4bn) in knowledge centre-related funding will pour into the state within the subsequent decade.

“The demand for AI is accelerating the development of information centres at an unprecedented velocity,” says Shaolei Ren, affiliate professor {of electrical} and laptop engineering on the College of California Riverside.

So, what is the attraction of Querétaro?

“It is a very strategic area,” explains Arturo Bravo, Mexico nation supervisor at Ascenty.

“Querétaro is correct within the center [of the country], connecting east, west, north and south,” he says.

Which means it’s comparatively near Mexico Metropolis. Additionally it is linked to high-speed knowledge cables, so giant quantities of information may be shifted shortly.

Mr Bravo additionally factors out that there’s help from the municipality and central authorities.

“It has been recognized as a know-how hub,” he says. “Each present numerous good options when it comes to permits, regulation and zoning.”

However why are many US firms selecting this state over someplace nearer to residence?

“The ability grid capability constraint within the US is pushing tech firms to seek out accessible energy anyplace they’ll,” says Shaolei Ren, affiliate professor {of electrical} and laptop engineering on the College of California Riverside, including that the price of land and vitality, and business-friendly insurance policies are additionally engaging.

Information centres host 1000’s of servers – a specialised sort of laptop for processing and sending knowledge.

Anybody that is labored with a pc on their lap will know that they get uncomfortably scorching. So to cease knowledge centres melting down, elaborate cooling programs are wanted which might use enormous quantities of water.

Nevertheless, not all knowledge centres eat water on the similar charge.

Some use water evaporation to dissipate the warmth, which works properly however is thirsty.

A small knowledge centre utilizing this kind of cooling can use around 25.5 million litres of water per yr.

Different knowledge centres, like these owned by Ascenty, use a closed-loop system, which circulates water by way of chillers.

In the meantime, Microsoft informed the BBC it operates three knowledge centres in Querétaro. They use direct outside air for cooling roughly 95% of the yr, requiring zero water.

It mentioned for the remaining 5% of the yr, when ambient temperatures exceed 29.4°C, they use evaporative cooling.

For the fiscal yr 2025, its Querétaro websites used 40 million litres of water, it added.

That is nonetheless numerous water. And in the event you take a look at total consumption on the greatest knowledge centre homeowners then the numbers are enormous.

For instance, in its 2025 sustainability report Google acknowledged that its whole water consumption elevated by 28% to eight.1bn gallons between 2023 to 2024.

The report additionally mentioned that 72% of the freshwater it used got here from sources at “low threat of water depletion or shortage”.

As well as, knowledge centres additionally not directly eat water, as water is required to provide electrical energy.

The additional water consumption by knowledge centres is an enormous downside for some in Querétaro which final yr endured the worst drought of a century, impacting crops and water provides to some communities.

At her residence in Querétaro, activist Teresa Roldán tells me residents have requested the authorities for extra data and transparency in regards to the knowledge centres and the water they use however says this has not been forthcoming.

“Non-public industries are being prioritised in these arid zones,” she says. “We hear that there is going to be 32 knowledge centres however water is what’s wanted for the folks, not for these industries. They [the municipality] are prioritising giving the water they must the non-public business. Residents will not be receiving the identical high quality of the water than the water that the business is receiving.”

Chatting with the BBC in Querétaro, Claudia Romero Herrara, founding father of water activist organisation Bajo Tierra Museo del Agua,  would not remark instantly on the information centres as a consequence of a lack of expertise however says she’s involved in regards to the state’s water points.

“It is a state that’s already going through a disaster that’s so advanced and does not have sufficient water for human disposal. The precedence needs to be water for fundamental means…that is what we have to assure after which possibly suppose if there are some assets accessible for some other financial exercise. There was a battle of curiosity on public water coverage for the final twenty years.”

A spokesperson for the federal government of the state of Querétaro defended their choice saying: “Now we have all the time mentioned and reiterated that the water is for citizen consumption, not for the business. The municipality has zero schools to water allocation and even much less to assign water high quality. Nor the state, nor the municipality can water allocate to any business or the first sector, that is a job for the Nationwide Water Fee.”

One other concern for these dwelling close to knowledge centres is air air pollution.

Prof Ren says knowledge centres usually depend on diesel backup turbines that launch giant quantities of dangerous pollution.

“The hazard of diesel pollution from knowledge centres has been properly recognised,” he says, pointing to a health assessment of the air high quality surrounding native knowledge centres by the Division of Ecology on the state of Washington.

Mr Bravo responded to these issues by saying: “We function underneath the phrases and situations specified by authorities, which, in flip, in my perspective, are those taking good care of the truth that these situations are acceptable for the communities round and the well being of everyone.”

As for the long run, Ascenty is planning extra knowledge centres within the area.

“I do see it simply form of progressing and progressing, with a brand new knowledge centre there each few years,” says Mr Bravo.

“The business will proceed to develop as AI grows. It is an amazing future when it comes to what’s coming.”