Spartanburg Data Center to Use 460,000 Gallons of Water Daily

The NorthMark/Valara data center on South Pine Street in Spartanburg, South Carolina, estimates it will consume 460,000 gallons of water daily, a volume comparable to nearly 2,000 average residential homes. This figure represents between 1.8 percent and 2.3 percent of Spartanburg Water's current average daily demand. Despite the substantial usage, Spartanburg Water CEO Guy Boyle stated that it would only account for about 0.6 percent of the system's maximum capacity, assuring that it would not adversely affect residents' drinking water availability, even amidst a severe drought. The data center plans to use a combination of a fully closed loop system and a standard cooling tower system. The majority of the water, approximately 86 percent, is expected to be lost to evaporation through these cooling towers. The remaining 14 percent, an estimated 65,800 gallons per day, will be discharged as treated wastewater, representing a 0.57 percent increase in discharge to the wastewater treatment plant. Spartanburg Water will issue a wastewater permit to Valara, which will include specific requirements such as a maximum discharge limit of 66,000 gallons per day, pH range, and oil and grease concentration limits. The data center will also be required to monitor and report chemical oxygen demand and total dissolved solids, as well as conduct annual tests for PFAS chemicals. NorthMark indicated that all water from the cooling tower and closed loop would be treated on-site and independently tested to meet permit standards. The project previously faced criticism regarding the environmental impact of its proposed natural gas turbines and received tax incentives from the County Council.