Web searches. Telehealth visits. Social media. Online shopping. Streaming video. Virtual meetings. The average household has 20 connected devices, and people check their phone up to 200 times a day.

Our modern world is increasingly digital, and it relies on a complex network of critical infrastructure: data centers.

Arizona has had these facilities for two decades, largely unnoticed in our communities. As demand for computing power has grown quickly, the need for more and larger data centers has followed. Community concern is understandable.

As a mother and grandmother, I initially had worries of my own – especially about how much of Arizona’s scarce water supply is consumed by data centers. What I learned is that these facilities use far less water than you probably assume.

Much of the media and politicians still use outdated numbers. I recently attended a town hall hosted by Attorney General Kris Mayes. She told the audience that data centers use tens of millions — even hundreds of millions — of gallons of water each year. 

While that aggregate figure sounds alarming out of context, it obscures how rapidly the technology is evolving, with Arizona leading the way. Modern, closed-loop cooling systems typically operate with only 120,000 gallons of water and can go decades without needing to be flushed and refilled.

According to the Director of ASU’s Kyl Center for Water Policy, data centers exceeding their proposed water use has not been an issue in Arizona. Most operate in areas where the state regulates groundwater pumping and requires annual reporting of withdrawals. Arizonans should know this demand is being actively monitored and responsibly managed under existing regional frameworks.

Ultimately, data centers account for just 0.12% of daily water consumption in Maricopa County and 0.15% of all water use statewide. That’s a fraction of a percent. For comparison, Arizona data centers use 1/33 as much water as golf courses and generate 50X more tax revenue per unit of water.

Even more efficient data centers are coming online with waterless cooling technology that will use even less of this precious resource.

While much of the public debate has focused on what data centers need to operate, far less has addressed the jobs and economic activity they produce. Over the past decade, the industry has created 108,000 Arizona jobs and generated $11 billion in economic output, according to the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. 

The economic windfall is accelerating; Arizona data centers created over $1 billion in state and local tax revenue in 2024 alone. Those dollars fund police and first responders, education, transportation and other vital services.

Currently, over 20,000 Arizona jobs are directly attributed to data centers, and for every one of these jobs, the industry supports an estimated six others.

Building each new data center employs as many as 1,000 construction workers, tradesmen, and women. Once a data center opens, entry-level engineers there can reportedly earn more than $65,000, with average pay topping $120,000, depending on experience. These are stable, good jobs at a time when many other industries aren’t hiring.

Now, not every data center is a good fit in every location. Local officials should make these decisions with community input.

But we also shouldn’t demonize an entire industry based on outdated information.

Data centers are essential. Need more proof? How many times did you check your phone while reading this column?

Lisa Everett is a community advocate, mother and grandmother. She lives in Surprise.