How much water do data centers use? Here's what we learned from public records.
Data centers' significant water consumption for cooling, especially in Central Ohio, is a concern. A public records request in Columbus revealed that data centers account for 3% of the city's overall water consumption, with Google's facility using over a billion gallons annually. Columbus is exploring wastewater recycling to mitigate the strain on its water supply.
A news report from News 5 Cleveland investigates the substantial water consumption of data centers, particularly in Central Ohio, and the challenges in obtaining transparent information about their usage. Residents express concerns that these facilities "will suck our personal drinking water" due to the large scale of these projects, which are described as "larger than anything we've seen before." The report highlights the difficulty in getting clear answers from operators, who often cite competition and trade secrets.
Through a public records request to Columbus's water department, News 5 learned that data centers account for 3% of the city's total water consumption, a figure deemed "not a huge burden on our system" by a water department representative. However, the records also revealed that a Google data center was among the top water consumers, utilizing over a billion gallons last year—enough to supply more than 16,000 nearby households.
In response to these demands, Columbus is looking into initiatives to recycle wastewater for cooling, aiming to meet the industry's water needs without straining the municipal supply. The water department expects the "end user" to bear the cost of such recycled water.