Lake Mead is facing prolonged drought and historically low water levels, raising concerns about how water- and power-intensive data centers could affect resources in the region.
There are now more than 4,300 data centers—built to train, deploy and deliver AI—across the U.S, according to Data Center Map. This includes 70 in Nevada, with dozens in Las Vegas.
Lake Mead sits along the Colorado River, which irrigates millions of acres of farmland and provides water to tens of millions of Americans, making the prolonged drought a major concern for long-term water stability. Key reservoirs along the river have seen declining water levels in recent years, already raising concerns about power generation, water supply, and local ecosystems…