Report: Data centers use minimal water nationally
A news digest highlights that data centers consume 17.4 billion gallons of water annually, accounting for less than 1% of the nation's total water consumption. This usage is less than sectors like golf courses or California's almond industry, countering perceptions of excessive water use. Data centers are also becoming more water-efficient and follow standard water acquisition processes.
A daily digest from Maven's Notebook compiles various California water and environmental news, prominently featuring a discussion on data center water usage. The article, referencing a National Review piece, clarifies that data centers consume 17.4 billion gallons of water annually, making up less than 1% of the total national water consumption. This figure is presented as significantly less than public perception often assumes, even less than sectors like the nation's golf courses or California's almond industry, while noting that data centers are also improving water efficiency.
The digest also covers the California Air Resources Board's new initiative to track greenhouse gas emissions from reservoirs and a study attributing a significant share of California's water woes to global warming, partly driven by oil and gas companies. Additionally, the Bureau of Reclamation and California Department of Water Resources released a report enhancing scientific understanding of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta's hydrodynamics and water quality, crucial for informed water management.
Other notable updates include a White House program to provide cybersecurity services to vulnerable U.S. water facilities, initially in Texas, and a California bill aimed at tracking and disclosing PFAS pesticide use, now heading to Governor Newsom's desk. Regional water news from across California details topics such as salmon return in the Klamath River post-dam removal, harmful algal blooms, reservoir dredging needs, groundwater management, and flood protection projects.