Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 4th December 2025 Issue no. 1189
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SOAPBOX: AI's hidden cost… water consumption set to quadruple by 2028
By Klaus Reichardt, CEO of Waterless Co.
“Artificial intelligence is creating an unprecedented water crisis. Data centres powering AI systems consumed approximately 17 billion gallons of water in the US in 2023, a figure projected to surge to 68 billion gallons by 2028 – almost a 300% increase in just five years.
Never in the history of this country has demand for water increased so dramatically in such a short time. This will obviously reshape utility costs.
Data centres require massive amounts of water to cool the processors running AI systems. Each AI interaction - for example a single ChatGPT query - consumes roughly one-fifth of a teaspoon of water. With ChatGPT alone handling over one billion daily interactions, the scale becomes staggering.
The crisis is compounded by location. Many data centres are built in the country's driest regions to capitalise on solar power, placing enormous strain on already-limited water supplies.
As demand begins to spike in 2026, water costs are expected to rise dramatically across affected regions. The laws of supply and demand are simple: when billions more gallons are needed annually, price increases will follow.
No industry can operate without water, from cleaning to packaging. This means businesses in all industries should also expect to pay more for water in the coming years.
Obviously, the owners of these AI data centres know something must be done and quick. However, it will take time. The best thing we can do right now is use water more efficiently, which is a long-term reduction in water consumption.”
Waterless Co is a family-run business founded in 1991 and a leader in promoting water efficiency. Based in Vista, CA, the company boasts a product range that includes various waterless urinals for home and commercial settings, along with liquid plumbing solutions and cost-saving accessories, reflecting their focus on sustainability and innovation in water-saving technologies.
www.waterless.com
13th November 2025