People & Power
Water For Data
What’s the environmental cost of our increasing data usage?
Our appetite for data is growing fast. And so is the number of data centres filled with computer servers.
They store and process the data generated by our online activity, from social media to shopping to cloud storage.
And they consume massive amounts of water and electricity.
Big Tech companies are building data centres in places like drought-stricken Queretaro, in Mexico.
We met some of the locals who are struggling to get by on rationed water as more of these thirsty facilities are built nearby.
Published On 3 Jul 20253 Jul 2025