A new report highlights a looming challenge for central Ohio: water demand is set to soar in the coming decades, with both industry and farming needing far more than before. This rise comes just as experts expect farmers will start irrigating their crops during summer’s driest months, a big change for a region that has largely farmed without extra watering for centuries.
Central Ohio is home to around 130 data centers, which already use millions of gallons of water daily to cool their equipment. According to a recent study from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency covering 15 counties, industrial water use in the area is expected to jump by about 120% from 2021 to 2050. By mid-century, industry could be pulling 250 million gallons a day. Farmers, meanwhile, may need roughly 110 million gallons each day during the growing season by 2040, mostly drawn from underground aquifers.
That groundwater is the same water source many towns and rural homes rely on for drinking. The report warns that pulling billions of gallons from these aquifers could cause problems. Yet Ohio has few rules controlling how much water can be taken from underground, leading some local water leaders to describe the situation as the “Wild West.” They say if big wells are drilled to supply industry, nearby residents might have little say in what happens.
For years, Ohio farmers haven’t watered their crops with irrigation, relying instead on rainfall. The state even ranks among just three in the US known for dryland farming. But climate shifts are changing this pattern, causing wetter springs and much drier summers. Areas like Licking County might need an extra five inches of water during the growing season—more than a month’s worth of rain—to keep crops healthy.
The timing couldn’t be tougher. Ohio recently faced its third drought in three years, including its driest August ever in 2025. While cities like Columbus currently supply over 140 million gallons a day, they are building new treatment plants to prepare for future needs.
Farmers say adding irrigation will be costly, requiring new wells, pumps, and large sprinkler systems. This may lead some to reconsider what crops to grow or push food prices higher. Experts also suggest looking at ways to reuse water already running off fields in spring to help during dry months.
Technology companies, drawn to Ohio’s growing reputation as the “Silicon Heartland,” are eagerly seeking water too. For example, Intel is planning a major chip factory in Licking County and will need at least six million gallons a day, with Columbus promising to meet those needs starting around 2030.
Some local officials are already exploring new well sites in Licking County, but questions remain about how pumping might affect existing water supplies for communities nearby. Farmers and water experts stress the importance of protecting water now, warning that overuse could lead to shortages, much like what happened with the Ogallala Aquifer in the western US.
The state’s water program H2Ohio, launched in 2019 to improve water quality and conservation, has helped spark important conversations, but funding has recently been cut. Conservation and reuse of water will be key, some say, but more action is needed from both government and industry.
Looking forward, Ohio may still have plenty of water overall, but changing weather patterns mean that water doesn’t arrive when it is needed most. Wet springs can flood fields and delay planting, while dry summers increase demand for irrigation.
Experts believe Ohio farmers and water managers must prepare quickly for these changes to avoid serious problems by 2040. Without better planning and regulation, growing demand from farms and industry could strain the state’s water resources in unprecedented ways.
As water use rises, Ohio faces a choice: continue with loose rules and risk shortages, or take stronger steps to manage and protect this precious resource that millions depend on every day.