Data centers are under pressure to reduce their water footprint due to rising concerns over water scarcity. To address this, modern data center design is incorporating innovative methods for recycling water, such as reclamation and stormwater retention.
Water Reclamation
Data centers can reuse treated stormwater and wastewater to cool their systems, reducing millions of gallons of wasted water annually.
Stormwater Retention
Collected rain runoff from roads and rooftops is filtered and treated before being used in cooling systems. Underground basins minimize evaporation loss and reduce contamination.
Wastewater Reclamation
Data centers can utilize gray water (from kitchens and laundry facilities) after it’s been purified through on-site treatment systems or partnerships with public utilities.
Geothermal Cooling Systems
Geothermal cooling is a highly efficient method, reducing energy consumption while providing year-round cooling capacity. Two types of geothermal cooling systems exist: well-based and water-based.
Well-Based Geothermal Cooling uses vertical boreholes to transfer heat into the Earth, requiring minimal water consumption. Water-Based Geothermal Cooling utilizes existing water sources as heat exchange mediums, offering high efficiency when suitable resources are available.
Robert McFarlane, Senior Principal at Shen Milsom and Wilke LLC, highlights the importance of sustainable data center design and efficient cooling systems in reducing the environmental impact of these facilities.
Source: https://www.techtarget.com/searchdatacenter/tip/Maximizing-water-recycling-in-modern-data-center-design