Data centers, golf courses and fountains: Denver water restrictions, explained
Denver, Colorado has implemented mandatory water restrictions due to a statewide drought emergency. The city council has enacted a one-year moratorium on new data center development and delayed CoreSite's expansion plans, citing concerns over high water consumption.
The city of Denver, Colorado, is grappling with severe drought conditions, prompting Governor Jared Polis to declare a statewide emergency. In response, Denver Water has imposed mandatory water-use restrictions and increased pricing for customers, aiming to cut total water demand by 20% by April 2027.
A central focus of these restrictions is the water consumption by data centers. While approximately 15 data centers within Denver Water's service area typically use around 10,000 gallons of water daily, a new CoreSite facility under construction in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood is projected to consume 235,000 gallons per day. Denver City Council has already delayed CoreSite's plans for two additional buildings at this campus.
Further addressing these concerns, the Denver City Council passed a one-year moratorium in May on all new data center development in the city. This pause will allow officials to draft and implement new rules and standards, particularly regarding water consumption, before further data center projects are considered.