SpaceX Amends IPO Disclosure to Flag Water Scarcity Risk; 33 Billion Gallons Predicted for Data Center Use by 2030

On Monday, SpaceX amended its initial public offering to disclose that water scarcity, regulations, and drought conditions could constrain data center development. Water use has become the most contentious issue surrounding data centers, with a recent Gallup poll showing seven out of 10 Americans oppose data center development in their area, citing water scarcity as the top resource concern.

Google's Council Bluffs, Iowa facility consumed more than 1 billion gallons of water in 2024 using evaporative cooling technology. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory predicted in a 2024 report that hyperscale data centers could consume up to 33 billion gallons of water by 2030 if they continue to rely heavily on evaporative cooling, particularly acute during summer when cooling demands peak alongside municipal water use.