Scotland's data centres powering artificial intelligence are using more than 13 million litres of water a year, according to data obtained by the BBC.
AI systems require warehouses full of computers which use huge amounts of power, generating a lot of heat.
To ensure the servers don't overheat, tonnes of water is used in their cooling systems.
And Freedom of Information figures have now revealed the volume of tap water used by Scotland's data centres has quadrupled since 2021.
Scotland currently has 16 data centres, with that number set to rise in the coming years as the technology advances and becomes more popular.
While similar systems have been in operation for many years to power the digital world including banking and movie streaming, the recent rise in AI has led to a spike in water usage.
Get the full story on the BBC website.