Europe’s data centers face rising water crisis as AI demand heats up

Europe’s data centers are now battling water scarcity as heatwaves intensify and AI workloads soar. Analysts warn cooling demands could swallow billions of cubic meters of water by 2027—more than Denmark uses annually. Industry groups urge regulators to balance conservation with investment, while critics accuse tech giants of downplaying the issue. Unlike energy, water lacks a backup solution, leaving operators vulnerable in a warming world.