How much water do data centers really use? Here’s what we learned from public records., tell me about this news in (https://www.kmvt.com/2026/09/16/how-much-water-do-data-centers-really-use-heres-what-we-learned-public-records/)

The news report examines the water consumption of data centers by analyzing public records from municipal utilities like Columbus Water & Power in Ohio, a major hub for tech infrastructure. Key takeaways from the report include:

• Transparency Challenges: Data center operators often keep water consumption figures private, citing trade secrets and competitive advantages. While most facilities draw from public water systems, confidentiality agreements and state laws frequently shield these details, prompting some states to consider mandatory reporting laws.

• Scale of Consumption: Public utility records reveal massive usage levels. For example, a single Google data center in New Albany, Ohio, used over 1 billion gallons of water in 2025surpassing the total annual consumption of nearby communities like the suburb of Bexley, which has about 13,000 residents. Another Google facility in Columbus drew approximately 448 million gallons (about 1.2 million gallons a day) during the same period.

• Relative Burden on Utilities: Despite their high individual usage for cooling increasingly powerful computing equipment, utility administrators note that data centers account for a relatively small fraction of overall municipal capacitymaking up roughly 3% of the total consumption in the Columbus service areathough growing demand continues to spark scrutiny and local discussions over resource management.