Data Centers and Water Usage in the Mountain West
Data center construction in the Mountain West faces opposition due to perceived high water consumption, a notion an opinion piece argues is often exaggerated. The article clarifies that data center water use, exemplified by Meta's project in Kuna, Idaho, is minor compared to agriculture and can involve beneficial water rights transfers. It advocates for local context-based policy and acknowledges the economic benefits of data centers.
Data center construction across the Mountain West is experiencing delays due to local opposition, largely fueled by what some consider misunderstandings about the industry's water consumption. Media headlines and legislative bills, such as Idaho's House Bill 895 and Washington's House Bill 2515, have propagated the idea that data centers are significant water users, contributing to public concern.
However, a recent opinion piece argues that such concerns are often based on hyperbolic language, lacking proper context. It highlights Meta's data center project in Kuna, Idaho, where Meta acquired water rights from farmland and subsequently signed over 2.5 million gallons per day to the city of Kuna to facilitate a new water treatment plant. While Meta's peak water use is estimated at 2 million gallons per day, this represents a mere 0.01% of Idaho's total daily water withdrawals, significantly less than agricultural consumption. The article suggests that data center water use often represents a transfer of existing water rights, not a new strain on local supplies, and can even benefit municipal water systems.
The author further notes that even when accounting for water used in electricity generation and chip manufacturing, data centers' national water consumption is a fraction of that used by U.S. golf courses or farms. The piece emphasizes the potential for data centers to bring economic benefits and advancements in various sectors. It concludes by advocating for a policy approach that considers local context, including data center consumption levels and regional water availability, a sentiment echoed by Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon's executive order on advancement and conservation.