Opinion Piece Dispels Myths About Data Centers' Water Consumption in Mountain West
An opinion piece argues that public perception of data centers' high water consumption in the Mountain West is often exaggerated and misinformed. It uses Meta's data center in Kuna, Idaho, as an example, highlighting that its water use is a minor fraction of the state's total and contributes to the city's water supply. The article contends that local opposition stemming from these misconceptions may hinder beneficial economic development.
An opinion piece by Luke Hill of the Mountain States Policy Center challenges the notion that data centers are major water consumers, particularly in the Mountain West region. Hill argues that local opposition to data center construction is frequently based on misunderstandings regarding the industry's water usage, citing legislative bills in Idaho (HB 895) and Washington (HB 2515) that highlight data centers' significant water requirements.
Using Meta's data center in Kuna, Idaho, as a case study, Hill explains that Meta acquired water rights from agricultural land and has dedicated 2.5 million of its 3.7 million gallons per day entitlement to the City of Kuna for a new water treatment plant. He asserts that even at peak usage of two million gallons daily, the data center's consumption constitutes only 0.01% of Idaho's total daily water withdrawals, which are predominantly for crop irrigation.
While acknowledging indirect water use for electricity and chip manufacturing, Hill maintains that national estimates indicate data centers consume considerably less water than golf courses or farms. He concludes that decisions to impede data center development should be context-specific, evaluating individual facility consumption and regional water availability, given their potential to offer economic benefits and support technological advancements.