Myths vs. Reality: Data Centers And Water Usage

By Ganesh Hegde, KETOS

Water has become a flashpoint in debates over data centers. Reports of massive water use have fueled community protests from Arizona to the Netherlands over fears that data centers are draining local water supplies. These concerns are understandable: one large facility can use as much water as a small city. However, the full story of data center water usage is more nuanced.

In this article, we’ll break down myths vs. reality around data centers and water. We’ll clarify what “water usage” really means in this context, the types of cooling systems (from evaporative cooling towers to closed-loop recycled water systems), how much water is actually consumed vs. returned, and whether data center water use truly deprives communities of drinking water. We’ll also highlight new trends (like using recycled wastewater for cooling ) and explain why water quality (not just quantity) is the often-overlooked piece of the puzzle.

The goal is an accurate, empathetic look at data center water use: cutting through hype, sharing facts, and identifying sustainable solutions. Let’s start by understanding how and why data centers use water at all.