Average Isn't the Whole Story

A single average gallons-per-day number does not describe every operating condition a data center or its cooling system may experience.Cooling-water demand depends on the amount of heat that must be rejected, the cooling technology being used, weather conditions and facility load. For evaporative cooling towers, the U.S. Department of Energy publishes full-load daily water-use estimates that rise with cooling capacity and vary with operating conditions and water-management practices.

That distinction matters for local infrastructure. Annual or average daily consumption can help describe total resource use, while peak-day or full-load demand can matter for the capacity of water-treatment, distribution, and wastewater systems. A technically accurate average therefore may still be insufficient for understanding the maximum demand a facility could place on local infrastructure.

When reviewing a data-center water figure, ask what period and operating condition the number represents: annual average, typical day, design condition, or observed peak.