Data centre operators in the UK will need to think more carefully about how water is used across their sites, where wastewater is created and what can be done to reduce it as artificial intelligence (AI) drives growth in the sector, according to liquid waste removal specialists at BusinessWaste.co.uk.
The comments follow US reports highlighting concerns about data centre wastewater, including reports that local testing in Wyoming detected a rare and potentially hazardous bacterium in wastewater from a contractor working on a new data centre.
In the UK, the Environment Agency says in the National Framework for Water Resources 2025 that large sites can use significant amounts of water for cooling and that continued AI growth could push demand higher.
Site design shapes water demand
Water demand can vary considerably between data centres depending on cooling systems and infrastructure. Some cooling systems rely much more heavily on water, while others recirculate more of it, so decisions made during site planning affect how much water a site eventually uses.
For new developments, this could mean considering cooling systems, local water availability and reuse opportunities before construction begins. Existing sites can track usage over time with meters and sensors, and a sudden rise in consumption could prompt checks for a leak, an equipment problem or another change on site.
AI could help operators spot problems earlier
Used alongside existing monitoring systems, AI could pull together information from water meters, cooling equipment and other parts of a site, making unusual changes or emerging patterns easier to spot. This could help operators investigate problems sooner, especially on large sites. The same monitoring could track changes in the amount of wastewater produced through cooling or maintenance and show where those changes originate.
Gaps remain in water-use data
There is still a lack of clear evidence on how much water data centres use and how AI could affect demand. The Environment Agency has faced difficulties gathering reliable water-use data from the sector, making future demand difficult to assess.
Research into AI-led cooling has so far focused largely on energy efficiency. A recent review of 64 studies found that only three reported Water Usage Effectiveness, suggesting water use will need to be measured more consistently.
Reducing reliance on drinking water
Depending on the site and cooling system, alternatives to drinking water include rainwater harvesting, recycled wastewater and other non-drinking sources, which government research on water use in data centres and AI has identified as possible ways to ease pressure on public supplies. The Environment Agency has pointed to closed-loop cooling as a more water-efficient option and says reuse should be considered when new data centres are planned.
Water removed from cooling systems can sometimes be treated and fed back into the system rather than discharged, as outlined by the US Department of Energy on cooling water efficiency in federal data centres. H2O Global News has previously reported on industrial cooling water reuse, including Xylem’s expanded partnership with Dow to build an advanced reuse system in Alberta.
Calls for more openness on water use
Mark Hall, liquid waste removal expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk, said: “Data centres are becoming a bigger part of everyday infrastructure, and the relationship between them and water is becoming a bigger part of discussions.
“As more sites are proposed, operators are likely to face more questions from local communities, councils and regulators about the pressure they could place on water supplies. Being able to explain that is going to become increasingly important.
“There needs to be more openness across the sector, because if we don’t know how much water data centres are using, it becomes much harder to judge what further growth could mean for local water supplies.
“For businesses planning new sites, water should be treated as a key part of the decision-making process from the beginning. The availability of land and power will always matter, but access to water could also play a bigger role in where these facilities can realistically operate.”
About BusinessWaste.co.uk
BusinessWaste.co.uk provides nationwide commercial waste management and recycling services for UK organisations of all sizes and says it helps over 30,000 businesses. Mark Hall is a director of the company, which he co-founded in 2015.
Frequently asked questions
The Environment Agency says large data centres can use significant amounts of water for cooling and that continued AI growth could push demand higher as the sector expands.
BusinessWaste.co.uk says cutting unnecessary water use and reusing more of it could reduce the amount needing treatment or discharge. Water removed from cooling systems can sometimes be treated and fed back into the system.
Used alongside existing monitoring, AI could combine data from water meters, cooling equipment and other site systems, making unusual changes or emerging patterns easier to spot.
Depending on the site and cooling system, options include rainwater harvesting, recycled wastewater and other non-drinking water sources. Closed-loop cooling can also reduce the need for fresh supplies.
No. There is a lack of clear evidence, and the Environment Agency has faced difficulties gathering reliable water-use data from the sector.
