Aberdeen providing bulk water to North Dakota data center
Aberdeen, South Dakota, is supplying nearly a million gallons of water to Applied Digital's hyperscale data center under construction in Ellendale, North Dakota. The water is used for a "flush-and-fill" process in the data center's cooling system. Separately, the Aberdeen City Council is working on a policy regarding data center placement within its own jurisdiction.
The article details that Aberdeen, South Dakota, has been providing bulk water, totaling nearly a million gallons since June 9, to Applied Digital's hyperscale data center located in Ellendale, North Dakota. This water, purchased by Roughrider Transportation Inc. out of Mandan, North Dakota, is being utilized for a critical "flush-and-fill" process. This procedure involves running treated water through the data center's cooling system to remove construction debris and detect any leaks before the main coolant is added.
In a related development, the Aberdeen City Council is actively formulating a new policy concerning the placement of data centers within its municipal boundaries. This ongoing policy work indicates a broader local governmental engagement with data center development beyond the specific water supply agreement.