Uncharted Seas: Data Center Wastewater Management Is Evolving Slowly

Wastewater treatment facilities, particularly those in urban areas, already are hard-pressed to process large volumes of wastewater while complying with local, state, and federal environmental mandates. The proliferation of traditional data centers and the advent of “hyperscale” data centers has exacerbated this challenge, and U.S. cities host many of the world’s largest data centers.

“Data centers can inadvertently pollute water through chemical runoff from evaporative cooling systems, including biocides, corrosion inhibitors, and heavy metals that accumulate at scale when facilities discharge up to 5 million gallons daily,” reports Data Center Knowledge. Further, existing wastewater infrastructure often lacks the filtration media to remove these pollutants, testified industrial hygienist Tammy K. Clark before the Michigan House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Corporate Subsidies and State Investments in February.

Clark’s suggestions to help alleviate the issue included more thoughtful siting of data centers and legislation holding data center operators accountable for the quality of the water they discharge — including requirements to erect dedicated water treatment facilities on site. Data Center Knowledge also proposed several solutions to the issue, including more sustainable chemical treatments, broader wastewater distribution, and transitioning to water-free cooling systems.