Many sites use waterless cooling systems
England’s commercial datacentres are using far less water than many assume, according to a new report published by industry group techUK in collaboration with the Environment Agency.
The study, which gathered data from 73 facilities across the England, found that 64% of sites consume fewer than 10,000 cubic metres of water annually, less than the usage of a typical leisure centre. More than half of surveyed sites (51%) reported using entirely waterless cooling systems, while 89% either measure their water use or operate systems that do not require water at all. Only 4% of sites reported using more than 100,000 m³ per year.
The report notes that datacentre operators choose cooling technologies according to local conditions. for example, “evaporative cooling is effective in regions with a constrained power grid, while operators may avoid the practice in water-stressed areas.”
Historically, some operators in the UK have used water to cool systems because of its abundance and relative cost, but this trend is starting to shift, it notes.
These findings counter the perception that datacentres are major water consumers, showing instead that the majority of operators already deploy efficient technologies to minimise water use.
Richard Thompson, deputy director for water resources at the Environment Agency, said:
“I am encouraged by the work techUK have undertaken to better understand water usage, the findings suggest UK datacentres are utilising a range of cooling technologies and becoming more water conscious. Advancements in technology must go hand-in-hand with protecting public water supplies, food security and the environment. It is vital the sector puts sustainability at its heart and minimises water use in line with evolving standards.”
With the UK government targeting a 20-fold increase in sovereign computing capacity by 2030, the report stresses that growth must be sustainable and aligned with water and climate goals.
techUK has urged the government to accelerate reservoir construction, with no new major reservoirs built in more than 30 years and to publish a Water Exploitation Index for each major river basin. It also called for fundamental reform of the UK’s water sector.