Vancouver, BC - March 13, 2025 - Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly prominent role in Vancouver's efforts to enhance municipal services, although its environmental impacts, particularly regarding water resources, warrant careful consideration. Large AI models like GPT-3 require extensive computational resources, reliant on clusters of servers that are both power-hungry and thirsty. Each server can consume several kilowatts, comparable to the energy usage of an entire household, while their cooling needs result in significant fresh water consumption.

It all started when I generated a song using AI tools and shared it on TikTok. To my surprise, one of the few comments I received read, "Please don’t use AI too much; it uses all your local water," from an account I had never encountered before. This unexpected comment sparked a curiosity within me about the intersection of technology, creativity, and environmental concerns, prompting deeper reflections on our contemporary relationship with artificial intelligence and its broader implications. In my research, I learned a few things about AI & water.

Water Consumption in AI Operations

This demand occurs through onsite cooling and indirect water use associated with electricity generation, which together can lead to millions of litres of water being utilized in AI operations. AI servers guzzle water through cooling towers that rely heavily on water evaporation to maintain optimal operating conditions, compounding the environmental burden. According to the United Nations environment program, globally, AI-related infrastructure may soon consume six times more water than Denmark, a country of 6 million. That is a problem when a quarter of humanity already lacks access to clean water and sanitation.  Even some people right here in Canada.

Vancouver's AI Advisory Committee

In response to these challenges, the City of Vancouver has established an Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (AIAC) as of March 13, 2025. The AIAC is responsible for overseeing the ethical and responsible use of AI technologies within the city. Recently, the committee also facilitated the launch of a new AI-powered chatbot, announce on March 7, 2025, to improve public access to city information. This chatbot will assist residents after hours with frequently asked questions and direct users to relevant city web pages, ensuring immediate support when live chat agents are unavailable.

Water Usage Around the World

As the proliferation of artificial intelligence accelerates globally, countries are scrambling to grasp its far-reaching ramifications, including the substantial water usage tied to powering AI data centres—an issue increasingly relevant to tech-forward cities like Vancouver, BC. Nations from the United States to China are confronting the environmental footprint of AI, where training models and cooling servers can consume millions of gallons of water annually, prompting urgent policy responses.

In Europe, the EU’s AI Act now integrates sustainability metrics and Canada, although in political turmoil with a new Prime Minister parachuting in as well as an impending federal election, is part of this race to develop adequate environmental policies. The recent federal Advisory Council on Artificial Intelligence and the Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute are exploring AI’s ecological impact, though specific water-focused regulations lag behind.

This international flurry of activity underscores a critical challenge for Vancouver, where the City’s AI Advisory Committee oversees local AI adoption—like the March 2025 chatbot launch—yet must align with emerging global standards to address water strain, potentially adapting reuse strategies from abroad to safeguard its abundant but pressured freshwater resources amidst growing tech demands.

Also former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau once pledged to eliminate all long-term drinking water advisories on First Nations reserves by 2021, but despite significant investments, the federal government missed its deadline. An auditor general report on access to safe drinking water in First Nations estimated that the federal government would still take until 2025-26 to ensure long-term solutions for a stable drinking water supply in some of the affected nations. As AI continues to expand its footprint, its excessive water usage could further complicate these issues, exacerbating existing challenges in providing safe drinking water to vulnerable communities.

Conclusion: Innovating Without Compromise

Through a balanced approach, Vancouver, just like many other cities around the world, aims to leverage technology without compromising its vital water resources, ensuring that advancements in AI contribute positively to both service efficiency and environmental stewardship.

#Vancouver AI, #Sustainable Tech, #Water Conservation, #AI Advisory Committee, #Smart Cities, #Green Innovation #WBN News Vancouver #Elke Porter

Connect with Elke at Westcoast German Media or on LinkedIn: Elke Porter or contact her on WhatsApp:  +1 604 828 8788

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