Campaigners warn that the expansion of data centers in Africa could intensify pressure on already scarce water resources. A petition to the South African Human Rights Commission highlighted limited awareness of data-center water use in South Africa, which hosts about 60 data centers. A modelling study estimated ChatGPT-4 could require up to 60 liters to produce a 10-page paper, and activists say hyperscale facilities may be as resource intensive as extractive industries without stronger oversight.
Africa’s Data Centers Could Deepen Water Shortages, Activists Warn
A chart showing Current drought levels in Africa, by share of a country's soil in drought.
Campaigners across Africa are raising alarms about the potential water demands of data centers as the continent faces worsening droughts and climate impacts.
What’s At Stake
A coalition of civil society organisations has filed a petition with the South African Human Rights Commission, flagging low awareness and weak oversight of data-center water use in South Africa, which already hosts roughly 60 data centers. Activists warn that unchecked growth in large and hyperscale facilities could place significant additional pressure on scarce freshwater resources.
The Numbers
Large data centers can consume enormous volumes of water — industry estimates suggest they can use up to 5 million gallons per day (about 19 million liters) for cooling and other operations. A recent modelling study of data-center water use in Africa found that running ChatGPT-4 to produce a 10-page paper could be associated with up to 60 liters of water use, roughly equivalent to a single washing-machine cycle.
"You are introducing sites which are resource intensive enough to be in many ways comparable to extractive industries," said Michael Marchant, head of investigations at civil society group Open Secrets, which was among the petitioners. (told Semafor)
Why It Matters
While data-center water use is a global issue, African countries are particularly vulnerable because many regions are already experiencing climate-driven droughts, strained municipal supplies, and limited regulatory capacity. Campaigners argue that without stronger monitoring, transparency and planning, hyperscale data centers risk exacerbating local water stress and creating new social and environmental harms.
What campaigners want: improved transparency on water consumption, stronger environmental oversight, community consultation before siting major facilities, and consideration of alternative cooling technologies and water sources.
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