AI and Data Centers: German Government Lacks Overview of Water Consumption

• The German federal government cannot quantify the water consumption of data centers or the impact of its planned infrastructure expansion on water resources.
• Germany aims to at least double total data center capacity by 2030, with a fourfold increase for AI-specific facilities, yet lacks specific mandates regarding water usage.
• Federal government agencies, including the ITZBund (Information Technology Center Bund), refuse to disclose water consumption data for their own facilities, citing security concerns.

Data Gaps and Reporting Issues

• Operators of large data centers (over 300 kW) are required to report usage data to the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA).
• As of July 2026, only 482 out of an estimated 1,000 mandatory reporters have submitted data for the 2025 period.
• Current monitoring is limited to on-site cooling; it fails to account for the full lifecycle water footprint, such as hardware production and electricity generation.
• Germany’s average Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) value of 0.49 in 2024 lagged behind the EU average of 0.4.

Security Claims and Transparency

• While the government plans to use the Energy Efficiency Act to impose fines of up to 50,000 euros for non-compliance, it currently lacks the oversight to effectively identify violators.
• The ITZBund refuses to share its water usage data, claiming that even aggregate information could contribute to security risks like sabotage or targeted cyberattacks.
• Critics, including data protection commissioners, argue that citing security risks is increasingly used as a pretext to restrict public access to information.