How Ecolab is cutting AI’s water bill

AI has been criticised for its disproportionately large use of resources, such as electricity or water, to operate. This issue is especially relevant for Southeast Asia, where water scarcity and climate vulnerabilities are becoming increasingly urgent. However, since AI seems to be here to stay, chemical and water management company, Ecolab, is helping to provide solutions to reduce the environmental impact of AI.

Thirsty Technology

According to an article in Forbes, AI’s projected water usage could hit 6.6 billion cubic meters by 2027. This usage is primarily driven by the data centers that power AI. These centers house the servers needed to process and store massive amounts of data, generating significant heat. To prevent overheating and maintain optimal performance, these centers rely heavily on cooling systems, which in turn use large volumes of water for temperature regulation. 

According to a study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a data center of a capacity of 100MW uses about 1.1 million gallons of water per day — equivalent to the daily water usage for a city of 10,000 people. 

As AI adoption grows, so will the demand for computing power and the water necessary to cool these systems, further adding to the strain on the world’s water supply, especially in water-scarce regions like Southeast Asia.

Countries in this region are still investing in AI, in order to further their own development. Singapore itself has implemented a National AI strategy to embrace AI, and according to last year’s budget plan, intends to invest more than S$1 billion into artificial intelligence (AI) over the next five years. This makes it all the more pertinent to find ways to reduce AI’s use of water to ensure that technological progress does not exacerbate existing water scarcity.

Ecolab solutions

Ecolab offers a variety of solutions to help reduce AI’s water consumption, focusing primarily on advanced monitoring technologies. One of the company’s key innovations is the ECOLAB3D™ IIoT platform. This platform uses advanced algorithms to provide real-time insights into water usage, helping businesses identify inefficiencies, anticipate maintenance needs, and implement corrective actions quickly.

Additionally, Ecolab has a long-standing partnership with Digital Realty, a provider of cloud-neutral and carrier-neutral data centers — facilities that support multiple cloud providers and network carriers. Within these data centers, Ecolab integrates AI-powered technology to detect inefficiencies in cooling systems. Once this technology is fully implemented, this solution is expected to reduce water consumption by up to 15%, extend equipment lifespan, and prevent the withdrawal of up to 126 million gallons (477 million liters) of potable water from local watersheds annually.

Beyond its technological solutions, Ecolab encourages businesses to adopt a circular water use model. This strategy emphasizes reducing, reusing, and reclaiming water within operations, helping companies minimize their freshwater intake. This not only alleviates the strain on local communities but also reduces costs associated with water treatment while improving operational reliability.

The place for AI

In Singapore specifically, Ecolab is also partnering with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to develop the next generation of data center engineers and water management professionals. 

As AI continues to grow and play a central role in global development, its environmental impact, particularly in terms of water use, cannot be ignored. However, those at Ecolab believe that AI’s potential far outweighs its negatives, especially when its capabilities and other measures are harnessed to reduce resource consumption. 

“While AI systems and data centres do consume power and water, contributing to emissions, they also act as a catalyst for reducing these very impacts by helping to expand renewable energy, advance low-carbon technologies, and minimise waste,” said Greg Lukasik, CEO of Ecolab Southeast Asia. 

“AI also plays a crucial role in accelerating low-carbon technologies, renewable energy, and enhancing climate modelling. By reducing waste, improving efficiency, and supporting biodiversity conservation, AI can help address its own footprint while driving broader environmental benefits.”

At Ecolab, the goal isn’t to halt AI’s progress but to develop ways for it to use resources sustainably. By doing so, it enables people to mitigate the environmental impact of AI and ensure a sustainable future for all, while still fully harnessing the potential of AI.