Records show Ohio data center used over 1 billion gallons of water
Google's data centers in New Albany and Columbus, Ohio, consumed over 1 billion and 448 million gallons of water respectively last year, exceeding the usage of entire nearby suburbs. This significant water demand and the data center industry's general lack of transparency regarding water usage have raised concerns among the public. The Columbus Water Department is exploring wastewater recycling as a solution to manage water strain.
Google's data centers in Ohio, a region increasingly recognized as a data center hotspot, have drawn significant scrutiny over their substantial water consumption. Public records reveal that a Google facility in New Albany utilized over 1 billion gallons of water last year, surpassing the consumption of the nearby suburb of Bexley, home to approximately 13,000 residents. Another Google data center in Columbus also used 448 million gallons in the same period, averaging 1.2 million gallons daily.
The burgeoning data center industry in central Ohio, which hosts more than 150 facilities, faces growing questions from neighbors and advocates regarding its environmental impact, particularly its demand for water to cool powerful computing equipment. Critics highlight the difficulty in obtaining clear answers due to the prevalence of non-disclosure agreements, which obscure details about water and energy usage for individual data centers, often cited by companies as a competitive advantage.
In response to these concerns and to manage the region's water resources sustainably, the Columbus Water Department is exploring innovative solutions. John Newsome, an administrator for the department, mentioned hopes to implement a system for recycling wastewater for industrial cooling, which would reduce the strain on existing water supplies. The department indicates that such a system would likely be funded by the end users, distributing the cost of sustainable water management.