The following is a summary of a recent presentation by Alimatou Seck, PhD Senior Water Resources Scientist Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB). All points, and data are hers. The video of the presentation is worth watching if want to know more.
Webinar:
Water Impacts from Data Centers in the Potomac River Basin - YouTube
The Washington Metropolitan Area (WMA) water supply system provides water to approximately 6.1 million residents across three states. On average, the system meets a demand of 400 million gallons per day (MGD), with peak demand escalating to 600 MGD during the month of August. Upstream, consumptive water use averages 107 MGD annually, but reaches 125 MGD in the summer. This upstream use has a noticeable effect on the overall flow of the Potomac River.
Data Center Water Use
Data centers play a critical role in supporting digital infrastructure, and their growth has accelerated rapidly due to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and the expansion of cloud computing services. In the United States, water consumption had been stable for a extended period of time then water consumption specifically by data centers increased from 15 MGD in 2014 to 48 MGD in 2023. In Virginia alone, data centers used an estimated 2.1 billion gallons of water in 2023, averaging about 6 MGD.
Cooling Technologies
Data centers utilize various cooling methods to manage heat and maintain operational efficiency. These include air cooling, evaporative cooling, and direct liquid cooling. Among these, direct liquid cooling is recognized for its lower water footprint compared to traditional cooling techniques. Additionally, hybrid cooling systems are being adopted to further minimize water losses by recirculating water within the system.
Water Use Estimates
On average, each data center facility uses between 38,000 and 42,000 gallons of water per day, though this data includes the older and smaller data centers built earlier and few of the new hyperscale data centers that are currently being built. Data centers do not disclose their power usage nor water usage. Dr. Seck used power consumption as derived from backup generator permits and disclosure from the ICPRB water utility partner to determine the relationship between power consumption and water use. Then she used the projections from the JLARC report to project a range of water use. Projections indicate that water use by data centers will increase substantially by 2050. The extent of growth will largely dependent on the adoption of efficient cooling technologies.
Future Projections
Looking ahead, the water consumption of data centers is expected to rise markedly. Under medium-growth scenarios, peak day water use could reach as high as 80 MGD by 2050 (that's 13% of summer water use). Water use also displays seasonal variability, using the most water in the summers when temperatures are highest. Combining the drought experience in the summer of 2023 with the projected growth in summer water demand it appears that there will not be enough storage and reserves in the system to meet the forecast demand during dry / drought periods.
Key Takeaways
- Currently, data centers have a modest impact on overall water use in the region, but they represent a rapidly growing sector.
- Future water use will be shaped by technology choices and trends in energy demand.
- Building resilience in the system will require effective management of both water and energy needs, especially in the face of uncertainty.
- Transparency in water and energy usage data is essential for managing future demand effectively.
- There is potential for state-level regulations to restrict water withdrawals by data centers in the future.
- Ongoing innovations in technology and operational practices can improve water use efficiency across the sector.
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