Google goal: replenish 120% of water used in data centers

The City of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is nearing completion on an agreement with tech giant Google to implement significant water-saving measures at the city's Three Rivers Water Filtration Plant. The $1.1 million investment is projected to conserve 182 million gallons of water annually by improving the plant's "rinse cycle" efficiency. Matthew Wirtz, Deputy Director of Fort Wayne City Utilities, noted the mutual benefits, stating, "They get the volumetric benefit; we get the cost savings benefit of the project." This initiative aligns with Google's global commitment to replenish 120% of the freshwater it consumes in its data centers by 2030, a goal for which it self-reported 64% replenishment in 2025. Liz Schwab, a development manager on Google's Data Center team, explained that water cooling is a more energy-efficient method for managing the heat generated by thousands of computers in a data center. She encouraged public accountability for Google's water usage, stating that annual reports will include Fort Wayne's consumption. The project will introduce smart sensors to precisely measure sludge thickness during the water treatment process, replacing the current timer-based rinsing system that uses 1.5 million gallons daily. This upgrade will allow water to be pulled "only when we need to" and recycle lower-concentration sludge water. Beyond this initial agreement, Fort Wayne has already proposed a second project to Google for 2026, which would focus on lining municipal water mains to address underground leaks.