Illinois data centers are using millions of gallons of residential water; experts say there are better alternatives
Data centers across Illinois, especially in the Chicago area, are consuming millions of gallons of municipal drinking water daily for cooling, straining the state's resources. Experts are advocating for a shift to using treated wastewater for cooling to prevent future water supply issues and ensure sustainable growth.
Data centers proliferating across Illinois, particularly within the Chicago metropolitan area, are reportedly consuming millions of gallons of residential water daily, posing a significant challenge to the state's water supply. Despite the proximity to Lake Michigan, experts from The Freshwater Lab at the University of Illinois Chicago, including Rachel Havrelock, warn that the available water for human use is not limitless. Havrelock highlights that a single data center can use up to 5 million gallons of water per day, equivalent to a medium-sized town's daily consumption, with this water being lost through evaporative cooling systems.
Most Chicago-area data centers currently rely on municipal drinking water for cooling purposes. However, experts propose a more sustainable alternative: utilizing treated wastewater from treatment plants, which Havrelock describes as "low-hanging fruit" for Illinois. Andrea Densham, director of regional government affairs for the Alliance for the Great Lakes, emphasizes the critical need for thoughtful planning and management regarding water consumption in the region. A study by The Freshwater Lab indicated that U.S. data centers used 17.4 billion gallons of water in 2023, projected to surge to 72.6 billion gallons by 2028, underscoring the urgency for Illinois to address these water management issues proactively. The CBS News Chicago Investigators reached out to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which declined to comment on the matter.