Questions arise over data centers’ water use, Illinois considers mandating water-efficient cooling systems
Northern Illinois communities are grappling with data centers' significant water consumption, leading to public skepticism and higher water rates. The state is considering the POWER Act to mandate water-efficient cooling, while residents have filed a lawsuit against a project in Joliet. Cities like Yorkville and Lockport are also implementing local policies or pausing discussions due to water concerns.
Data centers are increasingly criticized for their substantial water consumption across northern Illinois, prompting concerns among residents and a push for stricter regulations. While developers like Hillwood and PowerHouse Data Centers, involved in the Joliet Technology Center, and Edged, developing in DeKalb, argue that modern closed-loop cooling systems significantly reduce water use and that tax revenues justify the consumption, communities like Yorkville, DeKalb, and Joliet are raising water rates to fund infrastructure upgrades.
Illinois State Senator Rachel Ventura of Joliet is advocating for the statewide POWER Act, which would require data centers to implement cooling systems at least as efficient as closed-loop technology, addressing resident concerns over rising water costs and the sustainability of aquifers. This legislation seeks to establish a consistent framework for water use policies.
Specific projects face scrutiny: the Project Cardinal data center in Yorkville, for example, is subject to penalties if it exceeds daily or average water consumption limits, while the Joliet Technology Center is facing a lawsuit from residents who allege it will deplete an already strained aquifer. The City of Lockport has even suspended discussions on data center proposals, citing a lack of clear state regulations and community mistrust of the industry's water practices. Environmental concerns also extend to potential wastewater contamination from chemicals used in closed-loop systems, as highlighted by Rachel Havrelock, director of the Freshwater Lab at the University of Illinois Chicago.