FNN Article © May 4, 2026. FNN research information with links for readers to check on for more information. At this time, FNN found the following tech to be very interesting – Using Liquid Immersion Cooling. (See link provided in article).
FNN wants to readers to be aware of the following before they skim through the article and miss information. Data centers that use water for cooling produce substantial wastewater– which can contain treatment chemicals (biocides, anti-corrosion agents), concentrated minerals (scale), and even heavy metals picked up from the system. If this discharged water is not managed properly, it can easily pollute local waterways or overburden sewage treatment plants. In some cases, spikes in discharge from a data center have strained municipal water treatment capacity, raising concerns about water quality for the community downstream. This is why some municipalities now require data centers to pre-treat their wastewater on-site– essentially installing mini water treatment facilities– before releasing it. Monitoring water quality in real-time is emerging as a priority so that any contaminants or parameter spikes are caught early. In short, focusing only on how much water is used misses half the story: making sure the water that is returned is clean and safely managed can be even more critical for protecting community water resources.
Please keep the above information in mind when checking out the following information on data centers running with little to no water usage at all. In all research done, presently it is very clear that our readers do not want loud, bright, high polluting or water guzzling large data centers in our beautiful county or neighboring counties. FNN staff agrees. However, FNN feels that the public needs to be aware of what technology is available and this may help the area in the future in case our government officials, local representative, senator or local officials continue to push one or more of these centers on local residents. There are safer options available. FNN simply wants everyone to be aware of them.
Did you know that data centers can actually run with little to no use of water? This is true, although they only represent a very small percentage (roughly 10–25%) of the industry right now. Presently most data centers still rely on water-based evaporative cooling. However, there are water-free facilities that utilize air-cooling, liquid immersion, or membrane-based technologies, specifically designed for areas facing water scarcity.
Water-Free Data Center Technologies:
- Air-Cooled Systems: Use large fans and heat exchangers to cool servers without evaporation. However, these systems can sometimes require higher amounts of electricity to run fans, potentially lowering total energy efficiency.
- Liquid Immersion Cooling: Servers are submerged in non-conductive engineered fluids that absorb heat directly, eliminating water use. https://www.parkplacetechnologies.com/blog/what-is-immersion-cooling-data-centers/ . Also it virtually eliminates all noise compared to the 80 to 85 decibels.
- Next-Gen Membrane Cooling: Technologies like Microsoft’s zero-water design use advanced materials to enable cooling without water evaporation. https://natural-resources.canada.ca/funding-partnerships/energy-efficient-graphene-based-membrane-cooling-systems . Or view https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-cloud/blog/2024/12/09/sustainable-by-design-next-generation-datacenters-consume-zero-water-for-cooling/ .
Players and Solutions:
- Microsoft: Designing new data centers with “zero water” for cooling via chip-level technology. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-cloud/blog/2024/12/09/sustainable-by-design-next-generation-datacenters-consume-zero-water-for-cooling/
- Novva Data Centers: Implements water-free, air-cooled systems in states like Utah, Nevada, and California. https://www.novva.com/data-center-services/water-free-cooling/
- Location Constraints: While they are better for dry climates, the higher energy usage of waterless systems may not always be more sustainable than water-cooled systems.
- Alternatives like using treated wastewater or seawater for cooling are also being adopted to reduce the burden on local freshwater sources. (Studies on waste water clearly show the water is polluted and unsafe for all). This does not seem like a smart plan to even consider.
FNN has been digging around for alternatives to the monstrosities being pushed on our state by government leaders and representatives. There are a lot of safer available technologies available out there when it comes to data centers. Time to make our officials do the their jobs and listen to what we want, not what the president, governor, senators or representatives want. Do your research, study up on the dangers, toxins each may create. Note the pollutions such as water, air, sound and light and even take note of the water/electric usage from each of the options FNN has listed above. Push your local and state officials to represent your wants for your area. If they do NOT listen then back a candidate you can trust and ask yours to step down. This goes the same with local township supervisors who pass ordinances allowing a facility to move in your area without even asking residents. Time to stand up, and push back. If they do not listen push them to resign or vote them out and put in your own local candidate.
