Can Alberta’s water supply keep up with AI?
Julia Finot, Sports Editor
As Alberta continues to plan to house several artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, many are questioning whether the province’s resources can handle the sudden demand of the industry.
Large AI data centres reportedly use millions of gallons of fresh water a day, and in a dry province like Alberta, it’s unclear if those requirements can be adequately met for the planned centres.
Alberta is no stranger to water problems. Between dry summers, water main breaks, and a lack of accessible drinking water, the province is consistently challenged in supplying citizens with one of the most important resources.
Albertans across the province are wondering if AI centres will affect their access and use of fresh drinking water.
Seventy-one per cent of Earth is covered in water, but only 0.5 per cent is safe for human consumption. Most of the world’s fresh water is locked in glaciers and ice caps, but some can be found in groundwater and on the surface layer of lakes, rivers and swamps.
AI data centres require the same type of fresh water that humans drink.
Provincial water problems
Canada is home to about 20 per cent of the world’s freshwater, and Alberta ranks sixth among provinces, with 19,351 square kilometres of this supply, but this is not enough to support its citizens.
It seems like every summer Alberta is at risk of drought. Between the province’s insufficient rainfall and the lack of local freshwater sources, Albertans are encouraged to stay mindful of how much they use.
Besides the cities in the province, most of the land consists of forests and prairies, two of the largest sectors in Alberta’s economy. Both the prairies and forests need water.
Because Alberta has dry summers, fresh water is used to maintain crops and support vegetation. Rainfall does not consistently provide enough water to keep Alberta’s agriculture alive. Nearly 50 per cent of Alberta’s water is used for agricultural irrigation.
Fighting Albert wildfires also requires fresh water. As a landlocked province, firefighters must use local fresh water sources, as any salt water found in Alberta is located underground
In recent years, Calgary has also struggled with water main breaks. Calgary and the surrounding areas receive water from the mountains via the Bow and Elbow rivers, but the pipes that bring the fresh water into the city are a concern. Although the infrastructure is problematic, millions of gallons of water have been lost.
Data centres in Alberta
The province uses water in many different ways, but with the introduction of AI data centres, it’s unclear what the future of water will look like. Data centres use water to cool their computer systems.
Large data centres use up to five million gallons of water a day, which is equivalent to the daily water usage of Alberta cities such as Leduc, Okotoks or Cochrane.
Once water passes through the systems, most evaporates due to the heat generated by the computing system, while the remaining water is discharged into local wastewater facilities.
Albertans are concerned about how much water will be allocated to the data hubs. During a question period with Premier Danielle Smith, Albertans voiced concerns about water usage and previous water restrictions, and how these will pair with future data centres.
Smith addressed callers’ questions by stating that Albertans can still use water like normal, coinciding with data centres, but she didn’t answer the question if Alberta can keep up with the projected water demands.
According to the Government of Alberta’s website, “outdoor air can do the cooling in the right climate, using almost no water.” In the winter months, Alberta’s climate can cool AI technology, but in the summer months, no one knows what water consumption will look like.
Alberta’s average summer temperature is between 20 and 25℃, and in a study by Equinix, AI data centres are typically kept between 17 and 28℃. In Alberta’s summer months, fresh water will need to cool the technology, as the weather will be too warm to maintain a reasonable temperature.
The projected amount of water that Alberta AI data centres are expected to use is unknown. With more than 25 centres planned, the province can expect up to millions of gallons a day to be directed to the hubs.
