Tech companies are building data centers around the world to power artificial intelligence. The construction boom is causing blackouts and water shortages in vulnerable communities. Residents in Mexico and Ireland report serious disruptions to daily life.
Power and Water Shortages Hit Mexican Town
Microsoft opened a data center in central Mexico last year. Nearby residents in Las Cenizas say power cuts became more frequent after that. Water outages that once lasted days now stretch for weeks.
The shortages led to school closures and spread stomach bugs, said Dulce María Nicolás, a mother of two. She has considered moving. Víctor Bárcenas runs a local health clinic. He has stitched up children by flashlight.
In December, Bárcenas could not give oxygen to a 54-year-old farmer because the power went out. The patient was rushed to a hospital nearly an hour away.
Global Building Boom Strains Infrastructure
According to The New York Times, an AI building boom is straining power and water systems in communities worldwide. The United States leads the data center expansion. OpenAI, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are investing hundreds of billions to build computing sites.
But companies have also exported construction abroad with less scrutiny. Nearly 60 percent of the 1,244 largest data centers were outside the United States as of June, according to Synergy Research Group.
Hundreds More Projects Under Development
At least 575 data center projects are in development globally. Tencent, Meta, and Alibaba are among the companies building them. The facilities require massive amounts of electricity and water to operate and cool equipment.
Communities with weak infrastructure face the biggest impact. Residents struggle with basic services while tech companies expand operations. The shortages affect schools, hospitals, and homes. Local officials and health workers report growing challenges as power and water become unreliable.
