Data centers are the backbone of our digital infrastructure, driving everything from cloud computing to streaming services. However, their energy consumption and environmental impact have sparked significant concerns. One innovative solution gaining traction is the strategic placement of data centers at water treatment plants. This approach not only optimizes energy usage but also presents unique opportunities for sustainability and resource efficiency.
If you're looking to use your water treatment facility, nearby land, or other unused agency property for data center development, LandGate can help! We offer free analyses to determine if your properties are suitable for data centers and connect you with top tech companies actively seeking locations. Learn more about LandGate's services for government agencies here or book a call below:
Why are Water Treatment Facilities Good Sites for Data Centers?
Water treatment facilities are excellent locations for data centers due to their access to essential resources such as water and power infrastructure. Data centers require significant amounts of water for cooling systems to maintain optimal temperatures for servers, and water treatment facilities already have the infrastructure in place to support this need. Additionally, these facilities are often located on large parcels of land with existing utilities, reducing the initial development costs for building a data center. Their proximity to urban areas also enhances connectivity and accessibility while benefiting from minimal competition for land use compared to more traditional commercial development sites.
1) Reduces Environmental Impact
Placing data centers at water treatment plants reduces the environmental impact of both the water treatment facility and the data center itself. Waste heat from data centers can be repurposed to warm biological systems and aid in drying sludge, while simultaneously providing cooling for the data centers themselves. This integrated approach minimizes the need for separate cooling systems, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Additionally, data centers require a significant amount of space to house servers, storage units, and networking equipment. By utilizing existing space at water treatment plants, this eliminates the need for additional land development or construction of new facilities. This not only saves space but also reduces disturbance to natural habitats and ecosystems.
2) Urban Location Advantage
Sewage plants are typically located in urban areas, which also happen to be prime locations for data center capacity. However, securing space for data centers in major metropolitan regions poses a significant challenge. These areas often struggle with limited land availability or inadequate infrastructure to support such facilities. For example, in Loudoun County, Virginia near Washington, D.C.—a hub for data centers housing tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon—land prices have more than doubled in recent years, highlighting the growing demand and scarcity of suitable locations.
3) Promotes Water Reuse
Water treatment plants produce purified water that can be reused for various purposes such as irrigation or industrial processes. Co-locating data centers at these facilities provides an opportunity to use this recycled water for cooling purposes instead of using fresh water. This not only conserves water resources but also reduces the strain on local water supplies, especially during times of drought or water scarcity. Data centers require large amounts of water to cool their equipment, and by using recycled water from treatment plants, this demand can be significantly reduced.
4) Enhances Resiliency
Sewage treatment plants require a constant and reliable source of electricity to operate effectively. By siting data centers at these facilities, they can tap into the plant's existing power supply and backup generators, providing an additional layer of resiliency for data center operations. In case of power outages or natural disasters, this integrated approach ensures uninterrupted power for both the sewage treatment facility and the data center.
The Future of Data Centers at Water and Sewage Treatment Facilities
This solution is ideally suited for U.S. cities that are actively competing to attract data centers through tax incentives so major financial institutions, construction firms, and government agencies are expected to collaborate on enhancing wastewater treatment infrastructure and securing space for data centers through public-private partnership projects.
Cities and counties nationwide are uniquely positioned to utilize their water treatment and sewage facilities for data center development. As the owners of these facilities, local governments can either partner with data center developers or lease the infrastructure for such projects. This approach not only generates substantial tax revenue but also strengthens the local economy and infrastructure.
Data centers bring considerable economic advantages to their communities, including attracting new businesses, creating jobs, boosting tax income, and driving overall growth. Their development requires a significant workforce to handle construction, operations, and ongoing maintenance, offering valuable job opportunities for local residents.
If you're interested in leveraging your water treatment facility, underutilized land near water treatment facilities, or any unused agency-owned property for data center development, LandGate can help! At no cost, we can analyze the suitability of your agency's properties for data centers and help you advertise these properties for lease directly to a nationwide network of top tech companies actively seeking suitable sites for data centers. Learn more about LandGate's services for government agencies here or book a call below:
