Columbus could use recycled water for data centers' huge demand
Columbus is exploring a plan to use recycled, non-potable water for its data centers to address their significant water demand. The proposed system, if implemented, would require substantial investment from the major data center companies operating in the area. Columbus Water & Power is studying the feasibility and infrastructure needs.
The City of Columbus, Ohio, is investigating the use of recycled, non-potable water to supply its rapidly expanding data center industry, which consumed over 1.2 billion gallons of drinking-quality water within a recent 12-month period. Columbus Water & Power officials, including water division administrator John Newsome and Director Kristen Atha, revealed plans to study a system that could provide 40 million gallons of recycled water daily from the Southerly Treatment Plant, representing nearly 15% of the system's daily usage.
Currently, all water in the Columbus Water & Power system is potable, but data centers do not require drinking-quality water for cooling. While the proposed recycling system could serve data centers near the Southerly plant, other areas like New Albany, home to 40 data centers, would be too distant, potentially requiring a separate wastewater treatment plant. The utility aims to seek requests for proposals for the necessary infrastructure in spring 2027, emphasizing that the project would require financial investment from the major data center companies, not existing ratepayers.
The article mentions large tech companies like Amazon, Meta, and Google as significant water users in the Columbus area. Discussions are underway with these companies regarding their potential contributions to the infrastructure costs. Officials stated that a "balancing act" is needed to determine the exact water quality required by data centers, especially those using evaporative cooling, to maximize water reuse.