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The UK’s ambitious plans to expand its datacentre infrastructure face a critical hurdle, as the water industry warns of an impending water shortage that could jeopardise future growth. Water UK, the representative body for water companies across Britain and Northern Ireland, has issued a stark assessment suggesting that the government’s current projections for water supply omit crucial considerations regarding the needs of datacentres, which are vital to the burgeoning artificial intelligence sector.
Datacentre Water Demands Under Scrutiny
Datacentres, essential for powering AI technologies and other digital services, require significant quantities of water for cooling systems that manage the heat generated by their servers. This demand is amplified by the high energy consumption associated with these facilities, compounding the water usage indirectly. In a blunt briefing to Members of Parliament, Water UK described the government’s forecasts as “fatally flawed,” highlighting a concerning lack of attention to the water requirements of these facilities.
The trade body pointed out that the government’s frameworks for AI growth zones and strategies for advancing artificial intelligence completely overlook the water needs of datacentres. “There appears to be an assumption that the country will always have enough water for its economic needs,” stated the briefing. This is particularly alarming given a House of Lords report released in May, which predicted that England could face a shortfall of 5 billion litres of water per day by 2055.
The Reality of Water-Stressed Areas
As the UK grapples with prolonged periods of heat and drought, the impact is being felt acutely in regions already classified as water-stressed. Water UK reported that over three-quarters of datacentres are situated in the south and east of England, areas currently under hosepipe bans due to dwindling supplies. The implications are dire; without immediate policy shifts, the growth of new datacentres may become untenable.
The prospect of expanding water infrastructure, such as building new reservoirs, is daunting. Water UK emphasised that it can take up to 15 years of planning and construction to bring a new reservoir online. As leakage rates decrease—having reportedly been cut by 40% since privatisation—water companies are now faced with ambitious targets to further reduce this by 17% by 2030. However, environmental watchdog Greenpeace recently condemned water companies for wasting five times more water through leaks than could be saved by nationwide hosepipe bans.
Policy Changes Needed for Sustainable Growth
In Slough, which boasts the highest concentration of datacentres in the UK, the local water utility, Affinity Water, revealed that some datacentres are demanding up to 3 million litres of water daily—equivalent to the peak water usage of approximately 3,500 homes. Affinity Water has acknowledged that the current planning framework is ill-suited to meet the commercial water needs that can rival those of entire towns.
Currently, regulations mandate that datacentres can only use potable water, leading to estimates that datacentres in England consume around 6.6 million litres of drinking water every day. With a government goal to triple datacentre capacity by 2030, this figure could soar to nearly 20 million litres daily. Water UK’s deputy director, Jon Chappel, condemned the government for its lack of foresight, describing the situation as “unforgivable.”
The existing water shortfall in England is now believed to exceed 220 million litres per day compared to earlier forecasts. Water UK warns that this deficit is being mitigated by taking on greater environmental risks and imposing restrictions on water usage during drought conditions.
The Broader Impact of Datacentre Expansion
Concerns are not confined to England; similar issues have arisen in Ireland, where the expansion of datacentres has sparked criticism of both water companies and the government for their unclear stance on water usage. In both nations, datacentres have been classified as critical national infrastructure due to their role in maintaining essential services and national security. However, this status raises questions about the prioritisation of water resources, especially during periods of high demand.
Oliver Hayes from the campaign group Global Action Plan expressed concerns over the implications of this classification. “It’s likely we will see datacentres prioritised over households at times of peak water demand,” he warned. Chappel of Water UK has urged the government to establish a drought hierarchy to clarify which sectors will receive priority access to water in times of scarcity, a move that remains pending.
Why it Matters
The looming crisis over water availability for datacentres underscores a fundamental challenge at the intersection of technological advancement and environmental sustainability. As the UK seeks to position itself as a leader in AI and digital infrastructure, it must address the stark realities of resource management and environmental impact. Without strategic planning and policy reform, the drive for growth in the datacentre sector could lead to significant ecological and social consequences, ultimately threatening both the economy and the environment.
