Thursday, November 5th at 11 am ET via Zoom
Thursday, November 5th at 11 am ET via Zoom – Water is not a raw material required for data center computing. Data centers use water to help cool the large amounts of heat generated by the process of computing data. But how exactly does that work? How much water is truly needed? What are the implications for our water systems in the region? Are some approaches less demanding on water resources than others? And, what other questions should we be asking about it?
Recording
In previous webinars, we discussed the value of capturing the heat from data centers and channeling it to neighboring industries, homes, or even co-located greenhouses. But other approaches and technologies are also commonly discussed.
What’s the difference between closed-loop cooling, dry cooling, and evaporative cooling, and why should we care?
Appalachia has more water than many areas of the country–do we still need to worry about water use? As our speaker, Amy Adams, says, “Abundance is not the same as capacity.”
In this webinar, we discussed all things water and data centers. This included questions to ask about water permits, and steps communities can take regarding the potential impacts on local water systems, regional wastewater treatment system capacity, and other infrastructure.
Speakers will include:
- Amy Adams, Deputy Director at the Southeast Climate and Energy Network (SCEN)
Links and Post-Event Follow Up Materials
Webinar recording: On Youtube
Resources from our speaker:
Thanks so much to Amy Adams, Deputy Director at the Southeast Climate and Energy Network (SCEN), for sharing such valuable information. You can learn more about her work on the SCEN website.
- Amy’s slides:
- Amy’s handout:
- Amy’s email:
Here are some more resources shared during the event:
The Alliance for Water Efficiency’s Data Center Primer for Water Service Providers (June 2026) helps local water providers in becoming knowledgeable community stakeholders so they can engage more effectively in the planning and design of data center projects. The resource provides both technical background and practical guidance to support early, informed involvement. Non-AWE members can request a copy here; AWE members have access to a direct download.
The Alliance for the Great Lakes published a Data Center Playbook (March 2026) to help residents, grassroots organizations, and local leaders to better understand the impact of data centers on water usage. The playbook provides checklists for communities so they can ask the right questions at the right time helping them to make informed decisions. The Data Center Playbook can be downloaded here.
The North Star Data Center Policy Toolkit (2026), published by The AI Now Institute, includes a section on water that highlights local interventions, including ordinances, that communities can take around data centers.
A few folks asked about ordinance language – these resources are not specific to water, but do have interesting information.
- FairShake ELS has compiled resources for municipalities on their website
- Our friends at PennFuture have created a series of videos showing considerations communities should keep in mind when a potential data center comes to town. They have also created a model zoning ordinance with suggested provisions addressing water consumption, power consumption, noise, and aesthetic concerns.
- There is another new template ordinance that goes in a bit more depth for common community concerns, especially around water and noise assessment criteria.Template Data Center Ordinance
- Young Gifted and Green has shared information on the work and organizing behind the Memphis Community Benefit Ordinance, with a great toolkit.
Since rules vary widely by state, if you are looking for technical assistance, please feel free to reach out, and we will work to put you in touch with folks who know more about the legal landscape around water where you live.
Here are the webinars that have occurred in the series so far (link to youtube playlist)
Oct: Data Centers and Brownfields
Sept: Data Center and the Manufacturing Supply Chain
August: Data Centers and Non-Disclosure Agreements
June 4: Data Centers and Construction Employment
May 7: Local Government Resources Regarding Data Centers
April 16: Data Centers 101 and Responsible Development Practices
Feb 5: Catching Heat: The Opportunities and Challenges of Using Waste Heat from Appalachian AI Data Centers
Our next webinar on data centers will be Thursday Dec. 3rd 11 am ET via Zoom:
NEXT WEBINAR: Greenhouses and Data Centers: Can We Catch the Heat From Data Centers to Grow Food?
We’ll also be discussing these issues at our annual Virtual Strategy Summit, January 13 & 14th Register for the Summit here: https://reimagineappalachia.
We maintain a library of CBA info on our website: https://reimagineappalachia.
We also have data center resources on this blog, but it needs updated, as many great resources have come out recently. https://reimagineappalachia.