Why Water Use Can Be As Important As Energy Consumption

When choosing a location, data centers often look for a location close to their end customers and one where there’s cheap electricity.

Water was an afterthought, said Pedro Sancha, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Nalco Water, but that’s beginning to change.

With water needed to cool the data center, companies were bringing in Nalco after realizing they didn’t have the right permits or hadn’t worked out a way to bring in water effectively at all. Now it’s a main consideration when constructing the data center in the first place.

“They’re more proactive. They’re starting to engage us early in the process before they even decide where they’re going to build a data canter,” Sancha said.

Some are thinking big, like the Nalco client taking water from nature, utilizing it, cleaning it and putting it back into the world. Others are simply looking to be a bit more environmentally friendly or better understand how to lower costs. Many data centers are still using potable water, competing with average citizens for the general water supply.

“We do have technologies that help you optimize your cooling systems. Beyond choosing the right locations and the right cooling technology, there are ways existing data centers already can significantly reduce their water use,” Sancha said. “The irony is we need a lot of water to cool those data centers and support the technology revolution, but we also can use that technology to manage water in a smart way. That’s the full circle.”

Like the water cycle that brings us the precious resource to earth, it’s possible technology will help us create a positive loop, as well. For now, we can take heart that data centers are beginning to consider the implications of their setup on the aquatic world.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Software & Electronics Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!
Twitter – @TechMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

pillars
Discovering Your Guiding Pillars: Aligning Ambition with Wellbeing for a Purpose-Driven Career
October 28, 2025

Success without sacrifice—that’s what more leaders are striving for. As burnout rates climb among high-achieving professionals balancing leadership, entrepreneurship, and family, the question of how to build sustainable success without sacrificing health or identity has never been more timely. Gallup’s research shows that burnout is far from rare: roughly three-quarters of U.S. employees say…

Read More
HR Like a Boss
HR Like a Boss: Building Purpose-Driven, People-Focused, Profitable Teams
October 28, 2025

HR teams are navigating the tension between technology and empathy, discovering new ways to lead with purpose while keeping people at the heart of every transformation. Artificial intelligence, automation, and hybrid work models are rapidly reshaping workplace culture, pushing HR to evolve from administrative oversight to true strategic leadership. As a recent SHRM report…

Read More
appreciation
When Recognition Feels Real, Culture Thrives: The Quiet Power of Genuine Appreciation at Work
October 27, 2025

Employee appreciation is getting a much-needed rethink. Between hybrid teams, retention pressures, and a rising demand for authenticity at work, HR leaders are being asked to prove that recognition isn’t just a line item. According to Gallup, employees who feel they receive the right level of recognition are four times more likely to be…

Read More
benefits costs
External HR Support Can Help Small and Midsize Businesses Manage Rising Benefits Costs and Compliance Complexity
October 27, 2025

Healthcare costs are surging, and compliance landscapes are growing more complex across state lines. HR professionals are forced to rethink how they support both their people and their business strategy. Rising benefits costs, multi-state compliance, and talent retention pressures have converged to make HR one of the most critical and complex functions for small…

Read More