By Dr Asangba Tzudir
Every time we send a text or forward a message on WhatsApp, or scroll through Instagram pages, or post a picture or thought on ‘X’, it seems a casual act where the messages ‘vanishes’ into the digital whirlpool and the invisible waves. However, behind every message, every forwarded meme, and every voice note lies a thirsty infrastructure unknown and unaware to many. While it is normal to think of the digital world being operated by electricity, it is also operated by water.
The coming of internet, websites and social media has also given a realization about data and their storage systems. Datas lives in vast data centres like warehouse-sized facilities packed with servers that process and store our messages, photos, and videos. Now, these machines emit enormous amount of heat and which must be cooled constantly so that the storage facilities function smoothly and safely. Cooling systems, especially those using evaporative methods, is said to consume a significant amount of water. Now if we think of the major tech companies and their data storage cooling systems the volume will be huge if calculated annually to keep their data centres operational.
For the sake of statistics and which is quite revealing, in 2024, Google’s data center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, consumed 1 billion gallons (approximately 3.8 billion liters) of water. Globally, Google’s data centers average 550,000 gallons (2.1 million litres) daily per facility. In 2023, Google reported a 22% increase in total water consumption to 5.56 billion gallons. Meta (Facebook) in 2023, consumed 813 million gallons (3.1 billion liters) of water globally, with 95% of that (776 million gallons) used directly by its data centers. Microsoft in its most recent reporting year, their global operations consumed nearly 1.69 billion gallons (approx. 6.4 million cubic meters) of water, marking a 34% increase from the previous year. Amazon Web Services reports that 100 MW data centers can consume over 2 million litres of water daily.
So, a very interesting question arises - How much water does a simple text message consume? Now, the exact number will vary depending on the system and location, but estimates suggest that even a short email or message may indirectly require a small fraction of a litre of water when one accounts for data processing, storage, and transmission. It may look inconsequential until we multiply the billions of users worldwide sending billions of messages daily. The cumulative result will be staggering.
In the rapidly changing nature of text messaging, a decade ago, a message was just plain text. Today, even simple conversations include high-resolution photos, videos, GIFs, voice recordings, and endless streams of forwarded messages and other forms. A single minute of video shared through an app consumes far more data and therefore more energy and cooling as compared to a basic SMS.
The digital world and the convenience it provides actually come with an environmental grip which we rarely see or even unaware of.
The case of India, like many countries, is already facing serious water stress. Even Nagaland is currently undergoing a phase of drought especially in some districts. What is also worth considering is the location of the date storage centres. More so, if such centres are located in water scarce areas. As such in the planning of digital growth, and because of the technological age, what is imperative is the need to consider the water scarcity and its associated realities.
New, should we consider stopping communicating? It has become a lifeline in many ways but awareness matters. While Tech companies can adopt water-efficient cooling technologies, recycle wastewater, or locate data centres in areas where water is not scarce. Most importantly, users can reflect on digital minimalisation. Let us think about this simple yet a very important question - Do we need to forward every viral video? Must every casual text conversation include large media pictures? It calls us users towards a need for small behavioral changes, which if multiplied across the billion users, can reduce unnecessary data traffic.
So, the next time we send a message, it may help to pause and remember: behind the glowing mobile screen lies an invisible river draining. Water, the elixir of life quietly sustains our digital chat. In this age of climate change and growing scarcity, perhaps it is time to ask not only how fast our messages travels across the globe but how much it drains the water across the globe.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial for The Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com).
