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Data Centers and Water Fact Sheet

Digital Economy and Environment Program (DEEP)

2026

Large amounts of water are required to operate data centers, both directly for cooling and indirectly to produce electricity. The rapid expansion of data centers can place disproportionate pressure on local water resources, particularly in water-stressed and drought-prone regions such as the U.S. DEEP has prepared this factsheet outlining data center water consumption, different cooling technologies, and considerations for utilities and governments.

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