2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

AI: Water Usage and Other Environmental Effects

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-24-2026

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Sondra Miller

Abstract

In the current discussion on the ethics of artificial intelligence usage, the water consumption and e-waste production of large language models are major environmental impact concerns among many. Water consumption continues to rise as artificial intelligence becomes both more complex and further integrated with society, despite water scarcity already being a major issue for the people of Idaho. These challenges are exasperated in communities where water is scarcer, such as areas with a large farming community. Idaho has already been seeing a downward trend in available fresh water, leading to Idaho farmers to be concerned about the amount of water artificial intelligence uses, along with concerns with what e-waste will do to the soil. Compromises with the Idaho people and data centers can be made. Examples include requiring data centers to use gray water instead of blue water, requiring reports on prospective water usage, and other regulations to protect Idaho’s farming community. This poster presents a collection of published findings, figures, and an interview from professionals to allow for a quantitative analysis into how much water artificial intelligence consumes, how e-waste can harm soil, and what the future of resource use from artificial intelligence looks like for Idahoans.

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