Arizona's booming tech industry is putting unprecedented strain on the state's water resources. Data centers and chip manufacturing plants are drawing an ever-increasing share of energy from the power grid and consuming vast amounts of water.

Tempe

Arizona is experiencing significant growth in its technology sector, with numerous computer chip plants and artificial intelligence data centers being constructed, especially around Phoenix. These facilities require large amounts of water for cooling and cleaning, adding strain to the state's already limited water supplies, which are declining due to both increased demand and natural scarcity.

While the influx of tech companies is boosting the local economy, concerns are rising about the sustainability of water use. Some residents and experts highlight that residential customers may end up subsidizing the infrastructure needs of these tech centers. In response, researchers at Arizona State University are developing solutions such as advanced water recycling, increased solar power usage, and a water credit system to help offset the industry's impact.

Arizona’s booming tech hub strains water supplies in Silicon Desert

The scorching Arizona sun is rising on a new and growing silicon desert. Arizona is an arid wonderland of sprawling suburbs, swimming pools and a burgeoning intersection of desert and data. A forest of cranes now crowds the skyline around Phoenix, the state capital, as one after another, builders erect new computer chip plants and artificial intelligence databanks. And those plants use huge amounts of water to clean the computer chips and cool the databanks of the cactus belt. Arizona has a booming population, drawn by sun and warm weather. What it doesn't have a lot of is water. Supplies from groundwater and its rivers are declining. As the economy grows, so will demand on a dwindling resource. With more and more strain on the state's waterways... Everybody wants some of the water, and there's already not enough to go around. Bill Humble says the state continues to welcome thirsty new tech centers with little regard for the resources they use. The residential customers can be then used to subsidize the infrastructure that they need for the data centers, both for the water that they're going to use and the electricity that they're going to use. But at Arizona State University, scientists are working on imaginative solutions to the growing needs of the Silicon Desert, like recycling up to 90% of the water, using Arizona's blazing sun to increase solar power, and helping companies to earn water credits. If I help a farmer in your watershed put in drip irrigation instead of evaporating as much water, they count that as credits. And so just like globally, if you think about CO2, if I grow a forest in Brazil, it helps companies reduce their carbon footprint. So you can't actually be net positive on water. The hope is that those new technologies can solve the thirst for power and water that technology demands. John Hendren, Al Jazeera, Phoenix, Arizona.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced plans to build another immigrant detention center, dubbing it the "Deportation Depot." The facility will be in North Florida.

Jacksonville

DeSantis announces plan to build another immigrant detention center

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Washington

Ukraine Invasion

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Trump wants to extend federal control over Washington police

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Geneva

Global plastics treaty talks in Geneva stall as deadline looms

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Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

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Kyiv

NATO allies stand with Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin summit

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must improve conditions for detainees at New York's 26 Federal Plaza, a judge ruled Tuesday.

New York

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National Guard troops arrive in Washington, D.C.

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Trump warns of 'severe consequences' if Russia doesn't stop war

A Wisconsin woman on Tuesday was found guilty in the United Kingdom of trying to kill a man at point-blank range in 2019. Aimee Betro, 45, was part of a plot with two other co-conspirators to murder Sikander Ali, prosecutors said.

Birmingham

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Madrid

Historic heat fuels fires across Europe

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Brussels

EU leaders rally behind Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin talks

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Taylor Swift announces new album, 'The Life of a Showgirl'

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Trump to meet with Putin in Alaska on Friday

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Alaska

Europe frozen out as U.S. and Russia prepare for Alaska talks

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A prominent Al Jazeera journalist, who had previously been threatened by Israel, was killed along with four colleagues and another journalist in an Israeli airstrike in an attack condemned by journalists and rights groups.

Israeli strike kills Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza

At last one person is dead, dozens are injured and two people are unaccounted for after an explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton plant in Pennsylvania on Monday.

Clairton

At least 1 dead, dozens injured in U.S. Steel plant explosion

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Trump deploying National Guard to Washington, D.C.

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Trump and Putin set to meet on Friday without Zelenskyy

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

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Anchorage

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Milwaukee

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Breakdown