Good Question: Why do data centers use so much water?
Data centers consume significant amounts of water primarily for cooling their servers, which generate substantial heat. They typically use either evaporative cooling, which loses water through evaporation, or less efficient closed-loop systems. This high water usage has prompted some communities to consider imposing limits on data center water consumption.
Data centers utilize large volumes of water as a primary solution for cooling their extensive computer systems. WKYT's "Good Question" segment from Lexington, Kentucky, investigated this issue, explaining that data centers generally employ one of two water-based cooling methods.
The most common method is evaporative cooling, where water absorbs heat from servers and then evaporates in external cooling towers, a process that cools the water and, in turn, the computers. While effective, this method results in continuous water loss. The alternative is a closed-loop system, which circulates water without evaporation, preventing loss but being less energy-efficient and more costly to operate.
According to the Florida Water & Pollution Control Operators Association, 75-90% of data centers globally rely on water-based cooling, with evaporative cooling being predominant. The World Resources Institute reports that mid-sized data centers can use up to 300,000 gallons of water daily, with large facilities consuming as much as 5 million gallons per day. These significant consumption figures have led various communities to explore and pursue limitations on the amount of water data centers are permitted to use.