Google gives $3 million to MUD to reduce water use in Omaha
Google has partnered with Omaha's Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD), providing a $3 million grant as part of a larger $17 million nationwide initiative to reduce water use at its data centers. The grant will enable MUD to expand its leak-detection program by installing acoustic sensors across 500 miles of high-priority water lines. This effort aims to save an estimated 1 billion gallons of water annually, supporting Google's water stewardship ambitions in Nebraska, where it operates multiple data centers.
Google has announced a $17 million grant program across seven states to advance its water stewardship ambitions, with Omaha's Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) receiving $3 million. This funding will allow MUD to install acoustic leak detection sensors across 500 miles of its high-priority water lines, aiming to detect and repair leaks faster and save an estimated 1 billion gallons of water annually.
Gwen Howard, chairperson of the MUD Board of Directors, emphasized that continued investments in modernizing systems enable quick deployment of advanced leak detection to reduce water loss and strengthen resource stewardship. This Omaha project complements Google's existing water conservation efforts in Nebraska, where it has three data centers in the Omaha area and Lincoln.
Google has also partnered with natural resources districts to improve irrigation efficiency and reduce outflows from the Platte River, and committed $10 million for a dedicated pipeline from its Lincoln data center to the city's Northeast Water Resource Recovery Facility. Ben Townsend, Google's global head of Infrastructure Strategy & Sustainability, highlighted the company's responsibility to protect community water resources and invest in public water infrastructure, aiming to create a blueprint for responsible water use across the industry.