AI demand means data centres are worsening drought in Mexico

Situated in the course of Mexico, Querétaro is a captivating and vibrant colonial-style metropolis recognized for its dazzling stone aqueduct.

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

Throughout the state corporations together with Microsoft, Amazon Internet Providers and ODATA personal these warehouse-like buildings, filled with pc servers.

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

Ascenty, which claims to be the biggest knowledge centre firm in Latin America, has two in Querétaro, each round 20,000 sq ft in measurement, with a 3rd below 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 pace,” says Shaolei Ren, affiliate professor {of electrical} and pc 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 true within the center [of the country], connecting east, west, north and south,” he says.

Which means it’s comparatively near Mexico Metropolis. It is usually related to high-speed knowledge cables, so giant quantities of information may be shifted rapidly.

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

“It has been recognized as a expertise hub,” he says. “Each present a whole lot of good alternate options by way of permits, regulation and zoning.”

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

“The ability grid capability constraint within the US is pushing tech corporations to search out out there energy anyplace they will,” says Shaolei Ren, affiliate professor {of electrical} and pc engineering on the College of California Riverside, including that the price of land and power, and business-friendly insurance policies are additionally engaging.

Information centres host 1000’s of servers – a specialised kind of pc 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 methods are wanted which might use big quantities of water.

Nonetheless, not all knowledge centres devour water on the similar price.

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

A small knowledge centre utilizing the sort 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 via chillers.

In the meantime, Microsoft advised 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 stated 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 a whole lot of water. And should you take a look at total consumption on the largest knowledge centre homeowners then the numbers are big.

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

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

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

The additional water consumption by knowledge centres is a giant drawback 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 info 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 individuals, not for these industries. They [the municipality] are prioritising giving the water they need to the non-public trade. Residents are usually not receiving the identical high quality of the water than the water that the trade 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 info centres as a consequence of a lack of awareness however says she’s involved in regards to the state’s water points.

“It is a state that’s already dealing with a disaster that’s so complicated and would not have sufficient water for human disposal. The precedence ought to be water for primary means…that is what we have to assure after which perhaps suppose if there are some sources out there 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: “We now have at all times stated and reiterated that the water is for citizen consumption, not for the trade. 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 trade or the first sector, that is a job for the Nationwide Water Fee.”

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

Prof Ren says knowledge centres sometimes depend on diesel backup mills 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 considerations by saying: “We function below 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 sort of progressing and progressing, with a brand new knowledge centre there each few years,” says Mr Bravo.

“The trade will proceed to develop as AI grows. It is an awesome future by way of what’s coming.”