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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteNot every data center needs large amounts of water, but facilities that use evaporative cooling can consume it continuously to remove heat from servers. How much depends on the site’s heat load, cooling design, operating conditions and water source. The key comparison is not simply “water or no water”: cooling methods that use less water can require more electricity.
Why do data centers use water?
Servers, storage and networking equipment turn electricity into heat. A common cooling-tower system transfers that heat from the data hall to chilled water, then to condenser water, and finally releases it through evaporation at a cooling tower. Evaporating water carries heat into the atmosphere.
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Because IT equipment runs around the clock, this heat removal is an ongoing operational need. The U.S. Department of Energy says cooling-tower water consumption depends on the heat generated by IT equipment and other facility loads, as well as the efficiency of each step in removing heat. A data center’s water use therefore cannot be inferred from its size alone. DOE guidance on cooling towers explains the mechanism and operational factors.
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How much water does a data center use?
There is no single current, independently comparable total for all data centers in the available figures. Any useful total needs a defined facility or fleet, place, time period, cooling design and water metric. Figures from individual companies illustrate particular operations or designs; they are not an industry average.
Withdrawal, consumption and WUE are different
- Withdrawal is water taken from a source. Some withdrawn water may be returned.
- Consumption is water not returned to the immediate water environment, for example because it evaporates during cooling.
- Water usage effectiveness (WUE) is a site efficiency ratio: annual site water use in liters divided by annual IT-equipment energy use in kWh, as defined by the DOE. It is not a facility’s total water use and does not, by itself, show local water impact.
Do not compare a withdrawal figure with a consumption figure as if they measured the same thing, or add company-wide figures together to estimate sector use.
What company figures can—and cannot—show
| Figure | What it describes | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| 0.30 L/kWh WUE | Microsoft’s reported fleet WUE for FY2024 | Microsoft said this was 39% better than its reported global average of 0.49 L/kWh in 2021. This is a company-reported fleet comparison, not an industry baseline. Microsoft sustainability reporting. |
| 23% year-over-year WUE reduction | Microsoft’s Phoenix facilities in FY2025 | Microsoft attributed the change to cooling-system adjustments that allow finer temperature and humidity control. It is a reported site-specific result, not a general expected saving. Microsoft’s Phoenix data center information. |
| More than 125 million liters saved per facility each year | Microsoft’s estimate for its described direct-to-chip cooling design | This is the company’s design estimate, not a verified outcome for every facility. Microsoft’s December 2024 design explanation. |
| 87% of freshwater withdrawals | Google’s 2025 share from sources assessed as low or medium risk of water depletion or scarcity | This is Google-reported and company-wide; it does not establish conditions at any individual site. Google refers to its 2026 Environmental Report for methodology. Google sustainability reporting. |
| PUE of 1.09 | Google’s reported data-center fleet PUE for 2025 | Power usage effectiveness compares facility energy with IT energy. It is an energy metric, not a water-use measure. Google sustainability reporting. |
Can data centers cool without water?
Yes. Some facilities rely on air cooling or mechanical chillers rather than evaporative cooling towers. These approaches can reduce direct water use, but they may use more electricity. Google describes water cooling as energy-efficient and says its campus decisions weigh energy, responsibly sourced water and alternatives to freshwater. Google’s data center information.
Microsoft’s December 2024 explanation says evaporative cooling has traditionally reduced cooling-system power demand. It says replacing evaporative systems with mechanical cooling increases PUE, while warmer operating temperatures and efficient economizing chillers can mitigate that increase. Microsoft characterizes the expected energy rise as nominal for its designs; that is a company claim, not a guarantee for other facilities. Its described direct-to-chip design circulates coolant to chips and uses air-cooled chillers outside the building, avoiding water-consuming cooling towers during normal operations as described by the company. Microsoft’s design explanation.
Compare the full cooling trade-off
- Direct site water: distinguish withdrawal from consumption and note the reporting boundary.
- Water source and local conditions: identify whether supply is potable freshwater, reclaimed water or another source, and consider watershed scarcity and seasonality.
- Electricity: compare cooling-system energy and PUE or a comparable metric.
- Operating conditions: consider climate, heat load, temperature range and reliability needs.
- Evidence: separate measured operating results from design estimates and company projections.
Do data centers use drinking water?
Some may use freshwater, but water sourcing varies by facility. Operators may also use reclaimed or recycled water, which can reduce reliance on freshwater. That choice alone does not establish that a site’s water impacts are acceptable: local supply, other users and watershed conditions still matter. Google says its campus decisions consider alternatives to freshwater and watershed stewardship. Google’s water stewardship approach.
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Do data centers compete with local communities for water?
That depends on the specific site, water source, season and watershed. A company-wide share of water drawn from lower-risk sources does not prove that every facility has no local effect, and a replenishment project does not by itself show that local impacts have been offset.
To assess a particular facility, look for its withdrawal and consumption figures, the period covered, the source and the watershed. Utility or permit records can help establish local context where available. Without site-level evidence, neither a blanket claim that data centers cause water shortages nor a claim that they pose no pressure is justified.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How can data centers reduce water use?
Improve everyday operations
The DOE identifies several operational options: avoid unnecessarily restrictive temperature and humidity settings, manage airflow so hot exhaust does not mix with cool supply air, and use air-side economizing when outdoor conditions allow. Separating hot and cool aisles can improve air management and lower chiller energy use, which can also reduce cooling-tower water demand. Wider temperature and humidity ranges may save energy and water, but results depend on the size of the adjustment and outdoor conditions. DOE cooling-tower guidance.
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Change the cooling system or water source
Operators can adopt designs that avoid cooling towers during normal operation, such as the direct-to-chip approach Microsoft describes, or use reclaimed and recycled water where suitable. These choices require evaluating energy use, reliability and local water impacts alongside direct water savings; the result depends on the facility and its operating conditions.
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