Data centers' water usage in Mountain West examined
An opinion piece argues that data centers' water consumption in the Mountain West is often exaggerated. It uses Meta's data center in Kuna, Idaho, as an example, stating its water use is insignificant compared to agricultural withdrawals and often involves transferred water rights. The article discusses ongoing local opposition and legislative efforts in Idaho and Washington, framing them as based on misunderstandings.
An opinion piece published in Seattle Red asserts that concerns over data center water consumption in the Mountain West are often hyperbolic and not supported by context. The author, Luke Hill from the Mountain States Policy Center, highlights that articles and legislative bills, such as Idaho's HB 895 and Washington's HB 2515, portray data centers as "water guzzlers."
However, Hill counters this by detailing Meta's planned data center in Kuna, Idaho. He explains that Meta acquired water rights from farmland, which it plans to partially sign over to the City of Kuna for a new water treatment plant. Even at peak usage of two million gallons per day, Meta's data center would represent only about 0.01% of Idaho's daily water withdrawals, a fraction compared to the 86% used by crop irrigation. The article notes that data centers often use water that would otherwise have been consumed by agriculture on the same land, thus not adding new strain on regional water supplies, a point also relevant in places like Quincy, Washington.
While acknowledging that data centers' indirect water use for electricity generation and chip manufacturing adds to their overall impact, national estimates still show data centers consume significantly less water than US golf courses or farms. The article concludes by advocating for transparency in water usage and localized policy approaches, citing Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon's executive order as a model for balancing advancement and conservation.