2026-07-09 バージニア工科大学（VirginiaTech）
＜関連情報＞
- https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/05/cals-bse-semiconductors-irrigation-water-resources.html
- https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/JWRMD5.WRENG-7120
米国における半導体製造施設と農業灌漑が水リスクに与える影響の評価 Evaluating the Impact of Semiconductor Facilities and Agricultural Irrigation on Water Risk in the United States
Lauren Pincus, Dan Sobien, and Feras A. Batarseh
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management Published:Jun 16, 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1061/JWRMD5.WRENG-7120
Abstract
The rapid expansion of semiconductor manufacturing in the United States requires an examination of its impact on water resources, particularly in regions that already experience significant water stress. This study provides a comprehensive AI-driven analysis of the geographical distribution of semiconductor manufacturing facilities in relation to water risk indicators, including baseline water stress, drought risk, and groundwater table decline, using data from the aqueduct water risk atlas tool. We identify spatial clusters of high water risk across the continental United States through hotspot analysis and examine the clustering of states based on agricultural and technological attributes. Additionally, we employ causal analysis to estimate the direct and mediated effects of semiconductor manufacturing (SCM) facilities and agricultural irrigation on water stress and crop production. Our findings highlight significant effects of water availability on agricultural crop yields, and demonstrate that semiconductor facilities exacerbate water stress, intensifying resource competition with agriculture in water-scarce regions. We find the largest total effects of agricultural irrigation are on hay and haylage (0.170 kg dry per m2), corn (0.0801 kg/m2), and sugar beets (0.0465 kg/m2). We also calculate the equivalent effect of one SCM facility with irrigated farmland, meaning farmers would need to irrigate 8.88×106 m2 of farmland to have the equivalent effect of one SCM facility on baseline water stress. These are commodity crops that are commonly grown in the United States. This also means they are the most susceptible to unmanaged water use for agricultural irrigation, the water demands required for SCM, and the decrease in water availability caused by droughts. These results offer critical AI-driven insights into resource competition between the technology and agriculture sectors, underscoring the need to implement sustainable water management strategies.
