A proposed data center in Delaware City, known as Project Washington, has raised significant concerns regarding its projected water usage. The facility, developed by Starwood Digital Ventures, is expected to consume between 10 million and 20 million gallons of water annually, potentially tripling the total water usage of the city and its surroundings.
The data center, which would operate at a capacity of 1.2 gigawatts, aims to use a substantial amount of water primarily for cooling purposes. According to an application submitted to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the center would require over 9.9 million gallons yearly just for its cooling systems. In contrast, the entire city of Wilmington currently utilizes around 3.3 million gallons each year.
Environmental Impact Concerns
Environmental regulators recently indicated that Project Washington does not comply with the Coastal Zone Act, highlighting its potential to be one of the state’s top polluters. The facility plans to operate 516 diesel-powered generators and includes a 5-acre tank farm designed to store 2.5 million gallons of fuel. As discussions around the environmental impacts of data centers intensify, local residents have expressed growing apprehensions about the implications for electricity bills and water resources.
The demand for data centers in the region has surged, with over 50 new facilities proposed across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. These developments have raised alarm as energy consumption from such centers can strain local power grids and drive up electricity costs for consumers. As noted by Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania, in his recent budget address, the state is poised to become a leader in data center development but must implement safeguards to mitigate their environmental impact.
Data Center Water Usage Practices
Data centers are essential for housing the computer servers that support global internet services. As the demand for power-intensive applications, particularly artificial intelligence, increases, so too does the necessity for larger data centers that consume more energy and water. A report from the Department of Energy indicates that data center energy usage has tripled over the past decade and is expected to double or even triple by 2028.
Cooling systems in data centers traditionally rely on air cooling but have increasingly shifted to water-based solutions to manage the intense heat generated by operations. As explained by Benjamin Lee, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, water is often lost through evaporation during the cooling process. While some facilities utilize closed-loop systems that conserve water, many rely on open cooling towers, resulting in significant water loss.
Experts warn that the rapid growth of these facilities could lead to a severe impact on local water supplies. Al Ortega, an energy technology professor at Villanova University, emphasized concerns that large data centers could disrupt existing water and power economies, particularly during peak demand periods.
The Delaware River Basin Commission has yet to receive applications for water withdrawals related to these data centers, but it has identified at least 60 smaller-scale data centers operating within the basin. The commission is monitoring the situation closely, recognizing that the cumulative water demand of these facilities could exceed that of many local communities.
In response to these evolving challenges, discussions are ongoing regarding how data centers can sustainably manage their water needs. Potential solutions include employing dry air-cooling systems and technologies that efficiently recycle water. As the industry faces increasing scrutiny, experts continue to explore innovative approaches to reduce the environmental footprint of data centers and ensure that local communities are not adversely affected.
