This has been a topic of discussion for some time: data centers and their high water consumption. Especially now that Dutch summers seem to be getting hotter and drier, it’s important to avoid unnecessary water use. Recently, the Dutch Data Center Association, in collaboration with Pathema—a specialist in circular cooling water systems—published a white paper on data center water consumption. In this blog, we’ll share their conclusions with you!
Data centers have become indispensable
Data centers now play a crucial role in our society. They ensure that servers remain operational at all times, making digital services accessible every hour of every day. Cooling these data centers is currently the biggest challenge, as they must operate 24/7. Without cooling, they would overheat in no time. Many data centers opt to use water for cooling, as energy consumption would otherwise be too high.
Is water consumption in data centers really that high?
Data centers therefore consume a considerable amount of water for cooling. Whether this is too much is, of course, somewhat relative, but given the current risks of drinking water shortages, it is certainly a valid concern. The Dutch government has since established a protocol known as the “Displacement Protocol.” This protocol stipulates that when a drinking water shortage threatens, access to clean water for non-essential purposes will be restricted. Data centers fall under this category, so there’s a good chance they’ll lose access to the water supply in the height of summer and have to switch back to cooling with electricity. At that point, the data centers will no longer be contributing to a potential water shortage, but it’s actually already a bit too late.
Initiatives to reduce water consumption
Fortunately, many organizations are already working on initiatives and alternatives to reduce data center water consumption. Many data centers are actively pursuing what is known as a “water transition.” They are seeking solutions to reduce their reliance on drinking water and minimize water consumption as much as possible. Pathema, for example, is already working on a sustainable initiative that converts linear cooling systems into circular systems. In this process, water is treated without chemicals and can be reused repeatedly within a data center. With this approach, the water footprint can be reduced by 40% and water consumption by as much as 95%!