Wastewater Instead of Drinking Water: Data Centers Seek More Sustainable Cooling Solutions
October 29, 2026 / 12:33 PM
As the number of data centers continues to grow worldwide, operators are looking for new ways to reduce the consumption of drinking water used to cool servers. One of the most promising solutions is the use of treated municipal wastewater. This approach helps reduce pressure on groundwater and surface water resources, particularly in regions already facing water scarcity. Most projects rely on cooperation with municipal wastewater treatment plants, combined with additional on-site treatment systems at data center facilities.
Major data center operators are already moving from theory to practice. For example, AWS, in partnership with Veolia, is developing containerized wastewater treatment technologies in Mississippi, USA, capable of producing water suitable for industrial cooling applications. Such projects offer numerous benefits, including the conservation of valuable drinking water resources, support for circular economy principles, and greater flexibility when selecting locations for new investments. According to estimates, a single project of this kind can save more than 300 million liters of drinking water per year.
However, implementing these systems is not without challenges. Key obstacles include the capital and operating costs of treatment facilities, stringent water quality requirements, and fluctuations in wastewater availability due to seasonal and climatic conditions. Despite these challenges, experts agree that closer cooperation among water utilities, local authorities, and data center operators will be essential to expand the use of recycled water. As digitalization and artificial intelligence continue to drive demand for data processing, wastewater may become a crucial component of the sustainable operation of future data centers.
