MEP Ioan-Rareş Bogdan (PPE) has called on the European Commission to introduce binding maximum water consumption limits for data centres, arguing that current EU law only requires monitoring and reporting without ensuring resource preservation. In a parliamentary question submitted on 3 July 2026, Bogdan warned that the expansion of artificial intelligence is exponentially increasing the water footprint of data centres due to the high thermal density of new chips, and that existing rules fail to prohibit the use of drinking water for cooling in water-stressed regions.
The question, addressed to the Commission under the Energy Efficiency Directive and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1364, contains three concrete demands. First, Bogdan asks whether the Commission intends to move beyond the current phase of mandatory Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) reporting and introduce binding maximum consumption ceilings. Second, he inquires about a possible ban on using drinking water for cooling new facilities, obliging operators in vulnerable areas to adopt dry, immersion cooling or industrial waste water technologies. Third, he requests details on how the European sustainability rating scheme will be reviewed to include restrictive criteria tailored to the specific water impact of infrastructure dedicated exclusively to artificial intelligence.
The MEP's initiative targets the growing environmental footprint of the digital sector, pitting the EU's climate and water conservation goals against the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. If the Commission follows up with binding measures, data centre operators—particularly those in water-stressed regions—would face higher compliance costs and technology investments, while local communities and ecosystems would benefit from reduced pressure on freshwater resources. EU regulatory bodies would need to develop new enforcement mechanisms, and the AI industry could see increased operational hurdles.
Under European Parliament rules, the Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal whether the executive is prepared to tighten water-use rules for data centres or maintain the current monitoring-only approach.