한국어
Marking The State of Water Stewardship in an AI Driven Era
The world is experiencing increased demands on energy and water use, primarily driven by transformative technologies such as AI as well as extreme weather events and an evolving economy.
- 2030년까지 AI 관련 성장은 인도의 연간 수요량에 해당하는 추가 전력1과 미국의 연간 식수 수요량2을 충족시킬 수 있는 만큼의 물을 필요로 할 것으로 추정됩니다.
- Data centers could use more than 1 trillion gallons of fresh water annually by 20273.
- There is a projected 56% gap between freshwater supply and demand by 20304 and the demand for water is projected to increase by up to 30% by 20505.
As a global sustainability leader, Ecolab is helping solve these water challenges. Our 2025 study provides insights into the latest water perceptions and concerns, guiding businesses, governments and nonprofits to develop effective water strategies. Understanding public perception is essential to help inform these strategies and advance towards a water-secure future.
Key Findings From The 2025 Ecolab Watermark Study
Water: The Hidden Cost and Opportunity of AI
While many consumers recognize AI's substantial power consumption, fewer are aware of its significant water footprint. This awareness gap is particularly notable in Asia Pacific, IMEA, and Latin America.
Consumers’ perceptions of the extent to which each resource is currently used to support AI operations:
중국
81% Power
77% Water
IMEA
78% Power
61% 물
중남미
68% Power
51% 물
아시아/
태평양
60% Power
43% 물
유럽
59% Power
46% 물
미국
55% Power
46% 물
Data illustrates agreement percentages:
Businesses should leverage AI
for responsible natural resource use
Trust in businesses to manage the power demands of AI operations responsibly
IMEA
2026
76%
63%
중국
2026
72%
77%
중남미
70%
49%
유럽
2026
54%
37%
아시아/
태평양
51%
37%
미국
49%
39%
Smart Water Management: Consumers Want Businesses to Reuse Water Smartly
Despite a widespread consumer belief that businesses should prioritize smart water management to address water scarcity, fewer people feel these companies are successfully putting water reuse solutions into practice.
Percent of consumers who believe businesses are reducing, reusing, recycling, restoring and recovering water throughout their daily operations.
미국
43%
유럽
44%
중남미
48%
아시아/
태평양
48%
IMEA
67%
중국
74%
A widespread consensus exists among consumers globally:
Businesses must prioritize investments in technologies and infrastructure to bolster water resource resilience.
to protect water resources from climate change:
중남미
84%
85%
IMEA
2026
82%
82%
중국
2026
77%
76%
유럽
2026
72%
71%
아시아/
태평양
71%
70%
미국
68%
67%
Businesses demonstrating responsible water practices can expect strong consumer interest.
Percentage of consumers willing to
actively seek out more information
from these companies:
중남미
82%
IMEA
2026
78%
중국
2026
68%
아시아/
태평양
61%
유럽
2026
61%
미국
61%
Water Partnerships
No single entity can tackle water challenges on its own. By forging powerful partnerships, businesses, governments and communities can accelerate coordinated action to unlock solutions and build a water-resilient future for all.
Across most regions, consumers hold businesses (including manufacturers) and governments similarly accountable for water conservation. However, both still face criticism for not contributing enough compared to individuals, non-profits and conservation organizations.
The data below details consumer perceptions of how much each entity has done to date to conserve water in their country:
중남미
42% 기업
55% Individuals
48% 정부
60% Non-profits
유럽
2026
45% 기업
56% Individuals
45% 정부
54% Non-profits
미국
47% 기업
58% Individuals
48% 정부
56% Non-profits
아시아/
태평양
2026
48% 기업
49% Individuals
46% 정부
50% Non-profits
IMEA
2026
63% 기업
69% Individuals
79% 정부
67% Non-profits
중국
2026
80% 기업
79% Individuals
84% 정부
79% Non-profits
Despite global water challenges, consumers exhibit significant optimism about our ability to tackle them.
A resounding majority – over 60% of consumers in every region – believe that water scarcity
can be effectively addressed.
The extent to which consumers
agree that water scarcity
can be effectively addressed:
중남미
84%
IMEA
2026
83%
중국
2026
73%
미국
67%
유럽
2026
66%
아시아/
태평양
61%
Extreme Weather Events
Consumers perceive that changes in weather and the increase in natural disasters exacerbate water stress,
leading to challenges in both water availability and quality.
Percentage of consumers who are connecting climate change to worsening water stress:
IMEA
2026
81%
중국
2026
80%
중남미
79%
아시아/
태평양
2026
69%
유럽
2026
69%
미국
65%
Consumers clearly demand action on climate change, placing a strong expectation
on both corporate and governmental leadership.
Percentages of consumers who consider
it highly important for governments 그리고businesses to prioritize efforts to lessen
the impact of climate change:
중남미
87%
88%
IMEA
2026
81%
81%
중국
2026
76%
77%
유럽
2026
71%
71%
아시아/
태평양
70%
69%
미국
67%
67%
Notable Annual Trends
As access to clean and safe water continues to be a critical global issue, consumer concern levels are noteworthy.
How concerned consumers are about clean and safe water, broken down by region:
중국
2026
96%
중남미
92%
미국
유럽
2026
69%
IMEA
2026
67%
아시아/
태평양
2026
63%
Consumers across most regions consistently identify Agriculture and
Food & Beverage manufacturing as the industries most responsible for water use.
Agricultural
식음료
IMEA
2026
52%
37%
중남미
48%
44%
아시아/
태평양
47%
36%
유럽
2026
47%
33%
미국
43%
31%
중국
2026
29%
28%
수자원 관리 지원
100년 이상 동안 이콜랩은 자사 운영과 고객사의 운영에서 수자원 관리를 우선시하여 생명에 필수적인 자원을 보호하기 위해 노력해 왔습니다. 이콜랩은 전 세계 40개 이상의 산업에 걸쳐 기업이 중요한 프로세스에서 물 사용을 최소화하여 기후 및 물 관련 문제에 대응하도록 돕습니다. 이콜랩은 기후, 물 및 사업 성장 목표를 조정하여 고객이 지속적인 영향을 미치고 기하급수적인 투자 수익률(eROI)을 달성하도록 돕습니다.
이콜랩 솔루션
연간 1조 갤런 이상의 물을 관리하는 이콜랩은 Connected Chemistry™와
디지털 통찰력, 업계 전문성을 결합하여 지속가능성과 성장을 동시에 추진합니다.
이콜랩이 귀사의 운영에 스마트한 수자원 관리 접근 방식을 도입하는 데 어떻게 도움을 줄 수 있는지 자세히 알아보세요.
Smart Water Navigator로 기회 식별
이콜랩 Water for Climate™으로 기업적 접근 방식을 취해보세요
3D TRASAR™ 기술로 물 성능 관리
ECOLAB3D™ 디지털 서비스로 인사이트 가시화
이콜랩의 프로젝트
물 탄련성을 강화하면 기업이 성장할 수 있습니다. 다음 사례 연구는 이콜랩이 어떻게 고객사의 비즈니스, 물 및 기후 목표에 긍정적인 영향을 미치는지 보여줍니다.
이콜랩의 파트너십
주요 비정부 기구(NGO)와 맺은 파트너십은 우리 사업체, 고객, 지역사회가 직면한 글로벌 과제에 영향을 미치는 이해와 역량을 강화합니다. 함께 하는 파트너는 다음과 같습니다.
- Bloomberg Law, “AI Computing on Pace to Consume More Energy Than India, Arm Says,” April 2024: news.bloomberglaw.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-computing-on-pace-to-consume-more-energy-than-india-arm-says↵
- Ecolab analysis of data from Lei, N., & Masanet, E. (2022) and Goldman Sachs (2024)↵
- Making AI Less “Thirsty”: Uncovering and Addressing the Secret Water Footprint of AI Models: www.goldmansachs.com/insights/articles/AI-poised-to-drive-160-increase-in-power-demand and TIME, “How AI Is Fueling a Boom in Data Centers and Energy Demand”: time.com/6987773/ai-data-centers-energy-usage-climate-change/↵
- World Resource Institute: “Setting Enterprise Targets: Modeling Downstream Water Use and Consumption”: Setting Enterprise Targets: Modeling Downstream Water Use and Consumption | World Resource Institute↵
- World Resource Institute, “Securing Freshwater for All”: www.wri.org/freshwater↵